People's tendency to follow leaders is a “default” system of submissiveness. Psychological processes, including conformity and obedience to authority, are reasons why people follow.
Ronald E. Riggio, Ph.D., is a Contributor at Psychology Today. He specializes in leadership, organizational psychology, and social psychology, with a prolific body of work that includes over 150 publications on these topics. His expertise is informed by his role as the Henry R. Kravis Professor of Leadership and former Director of the Kravis Leadership Institute at Claremont McKenna College.


