The Effect of Power

There was an interesting radio show on Michael Krasny’s “Forum” at KQED Public Radio in which a series of psychologist devised a series of experiments designed to ferret out the effects of perceived power. Interestingly the power didn’t even have to be “real” sometimes they just told a person that there were in charge of the experiment while the testers left the room for a moment and that was enough to draw out power oriented behavior. 

What did they find?  The expression “drunk with power” is exceedingly adapt, in that people who feel themselves to be in a position of power act much like the are in fact…drunk.  They are more likely to take risks and possess confidence beyond what could be considered reasonable.  They will do this even in situations where they have no particular expertise as in the case where a business executive was overheard consoling another passenger on an airplane that they were “just experiencing a little rough air and it will be fine”.  Really?  How do you know?  Are you Chuck Yager?  Have you ever flown one of these things or do you just feel real good about yourself?

They are also more likely to act insensitively and boorishly toward others, things like eating in front of other people without inviting them to join or eating the last cookie on the tray.  There was higher incidence of sexual abuse or inappropriate advances on the part of both men and women. 

In other words, everything one needs to “stay” in a position of authority, sensitivity to the concerns of others, tact, and empathy…goes the other way.  Is this beginning to sound familiar to anyone out there?  Is this every boss you have ever known?

Interestingly it didn’t work this way for everyone.  There was significant percent of the population that went the other way and became more sensitive and more empathetic.  This was the population who was already this way and just became more so. 

Conclusion: power is an enhancer; whatever you were before you received the power bump is what you will become more of after it.   

Let me know what you think.