Abstract
According to the theory of Existential Pattern Therapy, mental energy flows through three drives that influence individuals: the survival, creative and sleep drives, each of which has different attributes that can combine or conflict. The influence of these drives is discussed in relation to the power of a demagogic Leader and his or her Followers and the potential control of such Leaders and Followers over Bystanders, or the potential power of Bystanders to offset such control, as discussed in Alan Jacobs' (1987) article on autocratic power.