The “SM-Loop” is a theoretical model that explains the structural reproduction of dominance in organizations through the interplay of S (Superior) and M (Mimicry). Originally coined with a tongue-in-cheek reference to S/M relationships, the term has since evolved into a powerful analytical tool for understanding real-world workplace pathology. Within hierarchical settings, emotionally expressive behavior—especially anger—from a superior (S) is often mimicked by subordinates (M). Over time, this emotional contagion becomes embedded as a structural pattern: subordinates imitate dominant behaviors to survive, eventually becoming new superiors themselves. This loop—emotional dominance → mimicry → ascension—reinforces itself across organizational layers. The SM-Loop is not confined to the workplace. It manifests in schools, families, and political systems, making it a memetic engine of cultural transmission. This paper unpacks the mechanisms of the loop using both theoretical frameworks and pop-cultural metaphors—most notably, the beloved Japanese animation Doraemon—to show how structural mimicry drives emotional reproduction. The SM-Loop is at once invisible and omnipresent. This paper offers a diagnosis, a mirror, and perhaps a first step toward resistance—for anyone trapped within the loop, and for those who dare to question it.
Koichi Hiraoka (2025) studied this question.