Final answer:
Historical events and circumstances influence beliefs in leadership models like the contingency-based or inborn talents model. The great man theory of history is an approach that credits influential leaders with shaping historical events. Environmental and social factors as well as the context of the era play crucial roles in defining leadership and affecting the types of leaders who emerge.
Step-by-step explanation:
Historical circumstances can significantly influence whether people believe in the contingency-based or inborn talents model of leadership. The interpretation of history that assumes history can be viewed primarily through the lives and choices of leaders is known as the great man theory of history. This theory credits leaders and heroes with triggering history's pivotal events.
What often shapes a president's or any leader's performance, reputation, and ultimately legacy are the circumstances that are largely out of their control, such as the context of their election and the makeup of the legislative body. Moreover, the environmental and social factors that exist in a society determine the type of leader who emerges and the relationship they have with their followers. These factors include the pre-existing societal norms, the transformative message being promulgated, and the charisma the leader exudes.
History is about understanding causation and the forces that compel individuals and societies to change. Historians today strive to consider various perspectives, including those of ordinary people, which can reshape our understanding of leadership models in different historical contexts.