I have observed amongst Managers a behaviour you call the Blair effect. It involves a Senior Manager or Supervisor making decisions which are not expected to be challenged, rather to be believed and accepted at face value because the individual giving the orders is of such status that to even consider an alternative viewpoint is seen as irrational behaviour.
Of course this behaviour can be observed in many different fields of activity eg; in a School where a teacher is rightly given respect for their position and authority, however an abuse of these given or assumed rights is always possible, as is the ignoring or dismissal of them by rebellious students.
I think it is becoming far too rare in society for honest and open questioning of authority figures. Perhaps one possible cause is hero worship? it is a common need of humans to want a leader or Hero/Prophet/Guru/Genius even? someone who appears to have all or most of the answers.
Perhaps the need for Leadership is something wired into our very natures, certainly it can be observed in a childs admiration for it's gift of parents who are truly caring, or the worship of Pop/Rock/Movie Stars, TV& Sporting celebrities, and Comic Book Super-Heroes, not to forget the origin of all those in Mythology and Religion. Maybe our ancestors would not have survived in such a harsh World without the appearance of those Alpha-Males and Females! after all there were Godesses as well, not to forget such as Joan of Arc, and inumerable others.
Unfortunately there are dangers in unquestioned obedience to an assumed near-infallible authority-figure, need we remind ourselves of Adolf Hitler, Stalin, Mao, but it is not just those obvious Dictators we must be alert to, it is the more subtle changes that come about in our societies through those who have the appearance of having our best interests at heart, the smile,tone,manner may all be appealing, but we must engage our minds as well as our hearts before swearing allegiance to opinions which may only be ultimately self-serving and detrimental to the common good.
Perhaps the true hero is to be found closer to home within ourselves as we strive to grow a healthy caution and an optimism tempered with an inquiring ever-questioning attitude of mind, then perhaps, just perhaps humanity may even survive.
