Comments on: One Reason Why Power Corrupts http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/02/one_reason_why_.html Overcoming Bias is economist Robin Hanson’s blog, on honesty, signaling, disagreement, forecasting, and the far future. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:23:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Cara Duty http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/02/one_reason_why_.html#comment-422149 Cara Duty Fri, 14 Sep 2007 18:30:54 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2007/02/one-reason-why-power-corrupts.html#comment-422149 Having been in the business world a while, my experience has been that the organism (employee) changes to adapt to various cultures and/or experiences in the workplace. For example, a normally introverted person who takes a job that forces him or her to interact regularly with the public (as in marketing) may learn the behaviors of those who are normally more outgoing, but then retreat into introvert mode when not on the job. However, if these behaviors are percieved by that individual as empowering, they may be carried out while at home as well. Perhaps the person wielding the power (in a negative fashion) has a problem with self-esteem, and so needs to make others feel less powerful in order to elevate himself or herself. If this person percieves that others willingly comply when in this mode, then it is reinforced and it continues. If the person is in the egoist mode, attempts to affirm that person while making counter-arguments to their power, may not be able to connect. Having been in the business world a while, my experience has been that the organism (employee) changes to adapt to various cultures and/or experiences in the workplace. For example, a normally introverted person who takes a job that forces him or her to interact regularly with the public (as in marketing) may learn the behaviors of those who are normally more outgoing, but then retreat into introvert mode when not on the job. However, if these behaviors are percieved by that individual as empowering, they may be carried out while at home as well.

Perhaps the person wielding the power (in a negative fashion) has a problem with self-esteem, and so needs to make others feel less powerful in order to elevate himself or herself. If this person percieves that others willingly comply when in this mode, then it is reinforced and it continues. If the person is in the egoist mode, attempts to affirm that person while making counter-arguments to their power, may not be able to connect.

]]> By: Robin Hanson http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/02/one_reason_why_.html#comment-422148 Robin Hanson Thu, 08 Feb 2007 13:00:33 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2007/02/one-reason-why-power-corrupts.html#comment-422148 So, to see things better from the point of view of many, try imagining yourself having very little power. So, to see things better from the point of view of many, try imagining yourself having very little power.

]]> By: Anders http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/02/one_reason_why_.html#comment-422147 Anders Thu, 08 Feb 2007 12:04:12 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2007/02/one-reason-why-power-corrupts.html#comment-422147 The study just manipulated power-thinking in students. They did test the students on a psychological scale of being in power, and it was negatively correlated with taking other's perspective (no idea about self-confidence). But it would be very interesting to test people on different levels in an organisation or even longitudinally. I would expect people to change, although people with a power orientation seem pretty likely to rise more quickly by being action-oriented and ready to take charge. The study just manipulated power-thinking in students. They did test the students on a psychological scale of being in power, and it was negatively correlated with taking other’s perspective (no idea about self-confidence). But it would be very interesting to test people on different levels in an organisation or even longitudinally. I would expect people to change, although people with a power orientation seem pretty likely to rise more quickly by being action-oriented and ready to take charge.

]]> By: Stuart Armstrong http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/02/one_reason_why_.html#comment-422146 Stuart Armstrong Thu, 08 Feb 2007 11:03:33 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2007/02/one-reason-why-power-corrupts.html#comment-422146 <i> Maybe we should just promote people with Asperger syndrome to management </i> Assuming they're not there already... But has any study correlated this with self-confidence? If you believe your own views are the most important and other less so, are you more likely to become a leader in the first place? Or do you change modes as you rise in the organisation? Studying mid level manager's different attitudes towards superiors and inferiors may help here. Maybe we should just promote people with Asperger syndrome to management
Assuming they’re not there already…
But has any study correlated this with self-confidence? If you believe your own views are the most important and other less so, are you more likely to become a leader in the first place? Or do you change modes as you rise in the organisation?
Studying mid level manager’s different attitudes towards superiors and inferiors may help here.

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