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Cult of Personality
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Over the last decade, there has been an explosion of the use of personality tests in recruiting, where applicants fill out online forms and are filtered based on their results. Prior to this, for key positions at least, there were testing companies with trained psychologists interviewing and evaluating results. The reason that most have made the change is of course the cost of having trained people do the testing, but more than that, it is another way to whittle down the pool without having to do much, even if the testing itself is inaccurate, or unvalidated.
Anything to save money.
A "cult of personality" is a situation where a public figure, often a political leader, is glorified through propaganda to appear heroic and admirable, leading to uncritical flattery and unwavering devotion. This is achieved through methods like mass media, art, and rallies to create an idealized and heroic image of the leader. While the term can sometimes be used for celebrities, it most frequently applies to autocratic leaders to reinforce their power and legitimize their rule.
(AI search overview)
While once the domain of public figures, in the last twenty years social media has turned us all into personalities that are encouraged to curate our content in order to build our personal brand. Eight billion cults of personality, driven by the algorithms to fight for space, to be heard, to make an impact, to get attention. And just like the methodology used for supreme leaders, reality doesn't have to play a part in the process, just perception.
Not too long ago, within my memory at least, in order for a public figure to be celebrated, they had to do something worth celebrating. This is how they became a celebrity - someone who is celebrated. Their fame came through achievement and accomplishment, whether that be in business, on the screen, or on a sports field. They had to improve themselves to the point they were able to prove themselves to an audience, who would then celebrate their accomplishments.
That isn't the case today, where "celebrity" is purely about being known, and being known needn't require having done anything worth celebrating at all. The majority of online influencers who earn a living from having followers, don't do anything special, don't have any special talents, haven't done much to improve themselves in comparison to others. They have just played into the hands of the algorithms, and been chosen to be amplified, largely for some gimmick, not an achievement.
And similarly to the "nonsense" personality tests used in the workplace, the audience are using this curated view of personality, driven by the algorithms, to select their candidates of influence. But unlike being influenced by accomplishment, the audience is being influenced by a largely engineered and false view of a personality, that has accomplished very little.
I have written a lot about role models in the past and what many of us are doing now are choosing our role models based on that personality test of "celebrity", even though other than possible fame and fortune, looks and body type, there is nothing practical to follow. We are following dead ends that don't improve us, which means we do not have any way to prove ourselves in the world. We measure ourselves against people who have curated and engineered their cult, without acknowledging that the test is inaccurate and irrelevant to becoming the kind of person we want to be - in reality.
In reality, our personality is influenced by what we do, not who we believe ourselves to be. Someone with the propensity to anger easily who has mastered emotional management, doesn't have an angry personality. Their personality is evidenced, proven, in their behaviour, remaining calm under pressure or insult, thinking through reactions slowly when they are emotionally triggered, and acting based on thoughtful deliberation of the situation. A potentially very violent person, can be the sweetest, kindest, most thoughtful personality.
As I see it, since we are social animals that can learn from others, we should surround ourselves with people who are able to inspire and support us to be the best version of ourselves. The "best version" is difficult to define, but I think we should consider the kind of person we want to be and then go about acting as that person. There is no point in waiting until stars align, we can be that person now. Or at least, we can start shifting to become that person, by doing the things that kind of person does. We might not be great at those things, but as we do them more, we improve ourselves and move continuously toward that unattainable best version of ourselves.
improvement(n.)
mid-15c., enprowment "profitable use, management of something for profit," from Anglo-French emprowement, from emprouwer "turn to profit" (see improve). Meaning "betterment; act of making better, amelioration" is from 1640s. Meaning "production of something better, something better (than something else)" is from 1712. Meaning "buildings, etc. on a piece of property" is from 1773. Related: Improvements.
"Improve" is "for profit" in the sense of adding value. The process of self-improvement is about adding value to ourselves. But from an economic standpoint, value requires demand, which also requires some attachment to reality and the ability to prove the product. And similarly to the way the financial economics is working today, there is very little attachment between the valuation, and the product provided. A company can make an immense amount in stock valuation, and provide nothing of value to society. Similarly, most online influencers who have created their mini cult of personality around themselves, do not offer anything of value to the audience, other than a point to waste a little bit more time, and avoid self-improvement.
As humans, we are constantly running our own personality tests on the people we interact with, filtering them on what we experience. But with so much of our "experience" driven into a world of digital illusion, our natural testing mechanisms are no longer calibrated and can be incredibly inaccurate, especially when what we are feeding are our desires. When we really want something to be true, we will believe anything.
Like a cult member.
We should be far more discerning with the people and content we surround ourselves with, ensuring that the majority of what influences us is leading us toward where we want to go, even if it doesn't always feel good to consume. Yet, most of us curate our own experience with what makes us feel good right now, even if it is leading us away, or holding us back from reaching toward the best version of ourselves. The one that is constantly improving and acting as the kind of person we want to be.
Next time you are scrolling, take note.
If it doesn't inspire and support you to make practical changes to improve yourself to be the kind of person you want to be, it isn't helping you.
Taraz
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