By some curious coincidence, the RAND corporation wrote an analysis of leadership styles framed through the concept of hubris and nemesis; and (while focused on cold war-flavored nation-state leaders; since that’s what you do when it’s 1994 and the CIA is paying for the work) it seems to fit a televangelist who thinks he’s engaged in spiritual warfare against a virus surprisingly well:
In some cases, these leaders may have a special, dangerous mindset that is the
result of a “hubris-nemesis complex.”This complex involves a combination of hubris (a pretension toward an arrogant
form of godliness) and nemesis (a vengeful desire to confront, defeat, humiliate,
and punish an adversary, especially one that can be accused of hubris). The
combination has strange dynamics that may lead to destructive, high-risk
behavior. Attempts to deter, compel, or negotiate with a leader who has a
hubris-nemesis complex can be ineffectual or even disastrously
counterproductive when those attempts are based on concepts better suited to
dealing with more normal leaders.
