# Authority Misinfluence Tendency

> Helps recognize and counteract the tendency to automatically follow leaders, even when they are wrong.

- Skill: `jdchi/authority-misinfluence-tendency` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add jdchi/authority-misinfluence-tendency`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/jdchi/authority-misinfluence-tendency/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: JDChi (https://skillmd.com/u/jdchi)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/jdchi/authority-misinfluence-tendency

---


# Authority-Misinfluence Tendency

This skill helps you understand the tendency to automatically follow leaders, even when they are wrong, which has led to many tragedies throughout history.

## Core Concept

Living in dominance hierarchies as he does, man was born mostly to follow leaders, with only a few people doing the leading. Human society is formally organized into dominance hierarchies, with culture augmenting the natural follow-the-leader tendency.

## Key Examples

- **Milgram experiment**: Ordinary people gave what they believed were massive electric shocks when instructed by an "authority"
- **Medical error**: Nurse put ear drops in patient's anus due to misread Latin abbreviation
- **Pilot crashes**: Copilots following foolish orders from captain
- **Business failures**: CEOs making terrible decisions while followers comply

## Consequences

- Following orders that cause harm
- Failure to question obvious errors
- Concentration of power in unsuitable leaders
- Resistance to removing authority figures who should go

## Antidotes

1. **Question authority**: Develop the habit of asking "Is this right?"
2. **Train for independence**: Copilot training includes ignoring foolish orders
3. **Design checks and balances**: Don't rely on any single authority
4. **Recognize fallibility**: Leaders are human and make mistakes

## Application

When using this skill, help the user:
- Recognize when authority is being misused
- Make independent judgments rather than automatic compliance
- Create organizations that question appropriately
- Avoid being manipulated through authority appeals