i am not saying that if a bronze was boosted to diamond he/she would lose every game. but i am saying .. the bronze player will feed often and not learn anything. it is obvious who doesnt belong in higher elos.
Lets look at a known person carried to diamond... Sky Williams..
He learned enough to not feed and actually was taught some tricks. he had 2 pro players who rotated helping him to diamond. there he hovered winning some and losing some that season. this season he is gold. i am not saying he is the worst player in league, but he is not ment to be diamond.
he felt good being diamond and in some way he felt like he achieved a goal.. cant take it away from him that he played his account and got there.
Some people feel it is their team mates holding them back so they feel higher elo is the place to shine. reality this is probably why plat is filled with bitter angry people. trust me ... more so than bronze. these are the people that you feel sick to your stomach winning with at times.
there comes a status with being higher elo.. you have a chance to play with people you see on youtube or their streams.
played with a good number of rioters in higher elo.. hell on the PBE carried paunce and smashed pants are dragon in the same game.. granted they both were making a video review of taliya and they didnt know how to play her yet.. and some salt with the video pants released because he played another game and smuggle acted like playing was too easy because he released that one.
so to answer your question... people set a mental statues of a position and wants to work to that spot.