Today, while surfing the internet, I came upon this article written by KATE PICKERT for the Time Magazine. Indeed, contrary to the famous “Lucifer effect” and the popular saying that “absolute power corrupts absolutely”, here’s an article that shows the bright side of power. I submitted it in Digg and now am publishing it here in my blog:
Power breeds competence, not corruption, according to a new study in the May issue of Psychological Science. The study, a collaboration between U.S. and Dutch researchers, finds that if people feel powerful in their roles, they may be less likely to make on-the-job errors — like administering the wrong medication to a patient. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the study suggests that people at the bottom of the workplace totem pole don’t end up there for lack of ability, but rather that being low and powerless in a hierarchy leads to more mistakes. It’s a finding that surprised even the study’s authors. “I’ll be totally honest. When we started this research,” says Adam Galinsky, a co-author and a social psychology professor at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, “we first had the hypothesis that maybe power might impair [cognitive] functioning.”
“This research has a lot of direct implications for such things as whether power corrupts,” says Galinsky, who collaborated with researchers from VU University Amsterdam and Radboud University Nijmegan.
(…)
To read the rest of the artcile go here.
To digg it, please go here.
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I think this is an interesting study. To me, it seems like whether or not power will corrupt a person really depends upon the person’s character. Power can corrupt those who are weak in character, and power can strengthen those who are already strong and ethical.
Cesar Millan (a.k.a. The Dog Whisperer) speaks of how some animals are born to lead and others born to follow. Does this same notion apply to humans? Perhaps natural leaders, when not in a position of power, will feel weak and ineffectual. Similarly, natural followers, when given power, may become corrupt and lose their way.
I agree, one has to consider what the individual wants from power or how they percieve it. If their dreams arent honest and ethical then they may seek dishonest and unethical outcomes. Interstingly I note that today the Dalai Lama has visited London but was not greeted at Downing Street as he should have been - perhaps an example of Gordon Brown using his power to placate others around the globe rather than doing what is right. The Dali Lama however remains powerful by following his dreams and seeking to build better world to live in - his soul is his compass and his conscience is the measure of his honesty.
I don’t agree with you Jade, sorry; I think that there’s no such thing as “natural” followers or leaders. For me life changes us, makes us either weaker or stronger, and actually you never know when weaker will become stronger and vice versa, all depends on a situation, people around us, feelings and…experience. Sometimes it takes very little, sometimes a lot “to brake” someone’s mind or heart, and it doesn’t matter whether you were strong or not.
And…also..it also doesn’t mean that this person is bad or good, or that he/she won’t become stronger because of that particular situation.
Someone wise once said “we learn our whole life”.
Same with power we cannot say what’ll happen to us when we are in a position of having power.
It can change us so much that we, ourselves may not even realize that. But generally speaking too much power for me, it’s not really a positive thing, it can…make someone..crazy as in “Macbeth”:
“POWER is Macbeth’s curse.
It inflames his guilt,
it forces him to abandon love;
He lives in the shadows of the night, sleepless and
afraid of being plotted against;
and in the end
POWER drives him mad”
Wouldn’t this world be a better place if we all were equal?
love
Agnieszka
Being in Power or feeling empowered is something that will do what Jade has said , but it should be balanced ,healthy I think not go to your head ..and then people become arrogant or think they know better .AS long as it comes from a good intention to grow and become a better person and like what John has said too ,we set an example for others to build a better world ,future .Thats what I like about the Dali lama he just is . Blessings Tania
Power deals with a curious lack of transparency.
I don’t think we lose the real impressions of our heart with power. As for the big power-big bother, it is so corrupted that you don’t have so much time to ask yourself about.
Whether you follow, or you quit. Or it helps you to.
So it seems brave heart does not fit with.
Statistic men will have to understand soon, that people does not want to follow that way of life. They need spiritual chiefs. Not Guru, or false Gods’ambassadors, nor politics and bankers.
But dignified representatives.
Life.