Charisma

For other uses, see Charisma (disambiguation).

The word charisma (from the Greek word χάρισμα (kharisma), "gift" or "divine favor," from kharizesthai, "to favor," from kharis, "favor") refers to a rare trait found in certain human personalities usually including extreme charm and a "magnetic" quality of personality and/or appearance along with innate and powerfully sophisticated personal communicability and persuasiveness; in short, charisma is often used to describe a seemingly uncanny ability to charm or influence people. It refers especially to a quality in certain people who easily draw the attention and admiration (or even hatred if the charisma is negative) of others due to a "magnetic" quality of personality and/or appearance. Though the term as it stands is extremely difficult to define, other similar terms/phrases related to charisma include: grace, exuberance, equanimity, mystique, positive energy, "right stuff," joie de vivre, charm, personal magnetism, personal appeal, "electricity," and allure, among many others. Another term constantly used is the "X-factor". Usually many of these qualities must be present within a single individual for the person to be considered highly charismatic by the public and their peers.

Charismatic individuals generally project unusual confidence, calmness, assertiveness, authenticity, and focus, along with superb communication skills. To the early Greeks, charisma was said to be "a divine favor/gift" or "gift of grace," implying that this "divine quality" was an inborn trait; today however, many believe it can be taught and/or learned despite the persistent inability to accurately define or even fully understand it.

The psychology of charisma

The study, recognition, and development of charisma in individuals is of particular interest to sociologists/psychologists, popular (usually national) politicians, public speakers, actors, movie-stars/movie-producers, casting directors, pop-music stars, trainers/coaches targeting the upper-echelons of the business community (CEOs), and academics or others involved in leadership studies or leadership development, among others.

In some cases highly-extroverted and brutally controlling charismatic leaders have used their personal charisma in extremely destructive and damaging ways throughout human history, for example, Adolf Hitler and Jim Jones.

The German sociologist Max Weber defined charismatic authority to be one of three forms of authority, the other two being traditional (feudal) authority and legal or rational authority. According to Weber, charisma is defined thusly:

a certain quality of an individual personality, by virtue of which s/he is "set apart" from ordinary people and treated as endowed with supernatural, superhuman, or at least specifically exceptional powers or qualities. These as such are not accessible to the ordinary person, but are regarded as divine in origin or as exemplary, and on the basis of them the individual concerned is treated as a leader.

Pierre Bourdieu did not have a very different position from that of Weber's, but he stressed that a leader has charisma only if other people accept that s/he has it. Bourdieu argued that charisma usually depends on an "inaugural act" such as a decisive battle or moving speech after which the charismatic person will be regarded as such.

Charisma has also been studied as a set of behaviors/traits; for example, a modern psychological approach posits that charisma is basically aggregative, a conglomeration of distinct personality traits that meld well in certain individuals to form the broad quality known as charisma. Theatrically, charisma can actually be performed on-stage and in films, and is encapsulated in verbal and non-verbal communication.

Professor Richard Wiseman says that a charismatic person has three attributes:

1. they feel emotions themselves quite strongly;
2. they induce them in others;
3. and they are impervious to the influences of other charismatic people.

Other uses

Charisma is also commonly referred to in role-playing games, being one of the abilities of a character. Charismatic ability modifies dice rolls concerning communication, persuasion, lying, inspiring trust in others, etc.

The former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Christian Cage is also known as "Captain Charisma" in his WWE and TNA career. Jeff Hardy, also a professional wrestler is currently known as "The Charismatic Enigma" since his debut in TNA

The hard rock band KISS has a song called "Charisma" on their 1979 album, "Dynasty"

See also

As "divine favor"

• Divine grace
• Enlightenment (concept)
• Genius
• Giftedness
• Guru
• Holiness
• Icarus
• Pentecostalism
• Prophet
• Sacrament
• Sanctification
• Shaman
• Sublime (philosophy)
• Tzadik

As "personal appeal"

• Benevolent dictator for life
• Charismatic authority
• Cool (aesthetic)
• Crowd psychology
• Cult of personality
• Dictator
• Eloquence
• Empathy
• Followership
• Leadership
• Leadership development
• List of charismatic leaders (uses Max Weber's definition as a basis)
• Movie star
• Power (sociology)
• Rapport
• Rhetoric
• Sex appeal
• Sex symbol

References and external links

• The 'It' Factor from the LA Times
• Charm, Graciousness — and Attitude from the LA Times
• The X-Factors of Success from Psychology Today
• The Character of Charisma from whyfiles.org, a 4 part series
• Max Weber and Charisma
• Charismatic Authority from about.com
• Why Charisma Matters from Tony Alessandra Ph.D.
• Charisma from vocalist.org
• Charisma FAQ
• Charisma by Thomas Robbin in the Encyclopedia of Religion and Society, edited by William H. Swatos: ISBN 0-7619-8956-0
• Toward a Theory of the Routinization of Charisma — April 1972

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

• Charisma  ^history

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

• History of "Charisma"

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.