Michael Jackson, Irresponsibility, & Entourage Effect
Dr. Michael Mercer
July 14, 2009
When Michael Jackson died, a key question popped up about the King of Pop: How could a wealthy man die in allegedly self-destructive ways when he paid big bucks to a bunch of people to cater to his every whim?
After all, Michael Jackson´s entourage – employees, hangers-on, groupies, and others – could have saved him from a yucky death resulting from drugs and who knows what else.
So, why didn´t his entourage stop his self-destructive actions?
They did nothing due to the "Entourage Effect" – a term coined by Dr. Michael Mercer, an expert on the psychology of responsibility.
"The Entourage Effect rewards irresponsibility," explains Dr. Mercer, a psychologist in Barrington, Illinois. "Any entourage member who aids a star´s anything-goes lifestyle stays in the fun-filled inner circle." They get money, excitement and perks they never would produce on their own.
"However, responsibility is punished," points out Dr. Mercer. "If an entourage member suggests a star quit doing harmful actions, that person would be thrown out the door faster than a speeding bullet." Then, that well-meaning person would need to find a real job – a non-glamorous job requiring real work.
Actually, Michael Jackson and other celebrities are not the only using the Entourage Effect to enjoy an "anything goes" existence. Dr. Mercer says the Entourage Effect also flourishes in (1) dictatorships, (2) corporations, and (3) families.
A dictator´s inner circle is his entourage. If any of them speaks up against horrors and repression, then they and their families suffer prison, torture, and executions. Also, in most dictatorships, the best paid jobs are those in the dictator´s entourage.
In corporations, says Dr. Mercer, "A CEO may surround himself with ´Yes Men´ who value their executive titles, perks, and whopping big salaries. So, they have a vested interest in avoiding telling the CEO if he is off-course or heading toward disaster."
Unfortunately, in families, children may unwittingly be part of their parents´ entourage. They do not speak up when they witness or are impacted by their parents´ destructive actions, because children realize the food and roof over their heads exist because of their parents. Dr. Mercer says, "If an adult in a celebrity´s entourage hesitates to speak up against the star´s destructive behavior, you can imagine how dependent children feel when they witness or experience their parents´ destructive actions."
So, the next time a famous person commits destructive deeds, realize that horror makes perfect sense due to the perverse "Entourage Effect."
The reason is, Dr. Mercer explains, "The Entourage Effect fosters a bizarre, twisted form of reality in which responsibly is punished and irresponsibility is rewarded."
After all, Michael Jackson´s entourage – employees, hangers-on, groupies, and others – could have saved him from a yucky death resulting from drugs and who knows what else.
So, why didn´t his entourage stop his self-destructive actions?
They did nothing due to the "Entourage Effect" – a term coined by Dr. Michael Mercer, an expert on the psychology of responsibility.
"The Entourage Effect rewards irresponsibility," explains Dr. Mercer, a psychologist in Barrington, Illinois. "Any entourage member who aids a star´s anything-goes lifestyle stays in the fun-filled inner circle." They get money, excitement and perks they never would produce on their own.
"However, responsibility is punished," points out Dr. Mercer. "If an entourage member suggests a star quit doing harmful actions, that person would be thrown out the door faster than a speeding bullet." Then, that well-meaning person would need to find a real job – a non-glamorous job requiring real work.
Actually, Michael Jackson and other celebrities are not the only using the Entourage Effect to enjoy an "anything goes" existence. Dr. Mercer says the Entourage Effect also flourishes in (1) dictatorships, (2) corporations, and (3) families.
A dictator´s inner circle is his entourage. If any of them speaks up against horrors and repression, then they and their families suffer prison, torture, and executions. Also, in most dictatorships, the best paid jobs are those in the dictator´s entourage.
In corporations, says Dr. Mercer, "A CEO may surround himself with ´Yes Men´ who value their executive titles, perks, and whopping big salaries. So, they have a vested interest in avoiding telling the CEO if he is off-course or heading toward disaster."
Unfortunately, in families, children may unwittingly be part of their parents´ entourage. They do not speak up when they witness or are impacted by their parents´ destructive actions, because children realize the food and roof over their heads exist because of their parents. Dr. Mercer says, "If an adult in a celebrity´s entourage hesitates to speak up against the star´s destructive behavior, you can imagine how dependent children feel when they witness or experience their parents´ destructive actions."
So, the next time a famous person commits destructive deeds, realize that horror makes perfect sense due to the perverse "Entourage Effect."
The reason is, Dr. Mercer explains, "The Entourage Effect fosters a bizarre, twisted form of reality in which responsibly is punished and irresponsibility is rewarded."