How to tell genuine conviction from leader-worship: it's transferred childhood dependence. 'The need to be subject to someone remains; only the part of the father is transferred to teachers, superiors, impressive personalities; the submissive loyalty to rulers that is so wide-spread is also a transference of this sort.' When someone is slavishly loyal to a leader, guru, or boss, they've re-installed their parents. The tell: the loyalty is uncritical and automatic — it feels like safety, not like an agreement.

— In our words · Source: The Denial of Death (Ernest Becker)