When people are given more power, we want to believe they’ll use it for good. But sometimes, they don’t. Sometimes people use their power for selfish gains at the expense of innocent lives.
Power, as most people think of it, is the ability to get certain things done. For example, a CEO can make decisions that impact the company as a whole. In contrast, certain employees’ power may impact certain applications the company is working on or a specific area within the company. Power is also the ability to influence other people or alter their states. In this context, a person who can influence many people to start a revolution would be considered powerful.
There have been many interesting findings on how people’s brains change after they’ve gained power/feel more powerful. It has been found that people become more impulsive and less empathetic. After gaining power, a person is less likely to think of what’s best for the group and more likely to think of what’s best for themselves.
Additionally, more powerful people are less likely to be criticized by others and to be held accountable. Those in power have been found to violate social codes, whether it’s as simple as taking the last cookie or as dangerous as not stopping to allow a pedestrian to cross.
When people see someone else making some sort of action, there are certain parts of the brain called “mirror neurons.” These neurons are active both when people engage in a certain motor activity and when they see people engaging in that motor activity. It helps with imitation learning.
In a study, people were asked to recall a specific time they felt powerless and a time when they felt powerful. After considering an experience that made them feel powerless, it was found their mirror neurons were firing just fine. However, after considering a time that made them feel powerful, their mirror neurons were essentially shut off.
The same parts of our brain that activate when we hear a friend/family member tell a story (this task is related to empathy) are typically deactivated in those who feel more powerful. A similar study had people draw the letter “E” on their forehead so that others could see it (i.e. they had to engage in this task from the perspective of those around them). Those who felt more powerful kept drawing the “E” so that they could see it but not anyone else. Powerful people are also more likely to stereotype others.
Powerful people’s disconnect is further amplified by their tendency to stereotype others. This is why commentary and critique are essential — without them, power cannot be kept in check.
Power is given to people by others. With power, reputation becomes critical. A kind person will have a more positive influence. It is essential to be aware of one’s reputation and how one’s actions are affecting others.
People who feel powerless are more inclined to be anxious and sad, which can affect their health. It can worsen their immune system and cause harmful biomarkers in their cells. Feeling powerless typically leads to high-stress responses that can cause things such as cardiovascular diseases and lowered life expectancy.
Powerlessness can come in the form of being discriminated against because of race or being from a poorer community. So maybe the priority shouldn’t be to ensure people’s happiness — maybe it should be to empower people, so they have a sense of agency, while also guiding them to use that power responsibly and with empathy.
Understanding how power can change you is essential, as is staying empathetic and having people around you who will speak up to keep you accountable and keep your influence positive.
VAAGEESHA DAS is a third year college student and columnist for The Dominion Post. Information comes from: Family Action Network. (2016, March 23). Dacher Keltner, Ph.D. – “The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence” (05/19/16). YouTube. https://tinyurl.com/powerparadoxyt; TVO Today. (2018, Feb. 1). The Psychology of Power. YouTube. https://tinyurl.com/psychpoweryt; Wikimedia Foundation. (2023, January 5). Approach/inhibition theory of power. Wikipedia. https://tinyurl.com/appinhwiki
