I was researching power-trippers today, and stumbled upon this article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22250668
If you can't open that link, Google the author's name and you should find her website, it's available to read free there.
This research seems interesting and important; it seems directly relevant to discussions we have had about bad leadership, and the desire to impose an ideology over others even when it comes at a net social expense.
I'd write more but I'm sitting in a doctors office right now so it will have to wait... I just wanted to post that link before I forgot.
I've only read the abstract, but this does sound fascinating. I will hopefully remember to read the paper in more detail this weekend after my life calms down again.
I am curious, though, whether power is defined strictly in the article proper or in psychology in general? A significant part of my second and third year at university was spent trying to define and then pin down how to analyse power. As a concept (particularly in political discussions) it isn't always easy to figure out. I'm guessing power in this context refers to a relationship of control?
Also - which of the four authors should we google? The site wants money for it (which... I'm not necessarily against, if some of it goes back to the authors) but if it is available for free elsewhere I'm guessing that's not the case?
The primary, DeCelles. I'm on a real computer now, so here's her website: http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/FacultyAndResearch/Faculty/FacultyBios/DeCelles.aspx
Interesting read. I'd say that personality has a lot to do with it.
However, Garth Ennis had something to say about this that's worth noting:
"Power corrupts. Absolute power brings the absolute certainty of becoming a complete cunt."
http://www-2.rotman.utoronto.ca/facbios/file/DeCelles%20et%20al%202012%20JAP.pdf
Thanks for posting the direct link, I'm not sure anyone here would have been smart enough to click to it from the link to her homepage.
Quote from: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on February 19, 2015, 03:06:04 PM
Thanks for posting the direct link, I'm not sure anyone here would have been smart enough to click to it from the link to her homepage.
uhm. :oops:
Quote from: Reginald Ret (07/05/1983 - 06/11/2014) on February 19, 2015, 09:38:21 PM
Quote from: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on February 19, 2015, 03:06:04 PM
Thanks for posting the direct link, I'm not sure anyone here would have been smart enough to click to it from the link to her homepage.
uhm. :oops:
Me too :sad: BUT reading paper now :)
Posting to remember to read. Initial reaction, surely Power enables corruption?
Quote from: Junkenstein on February 20, 2015, 08:51:07 PM
Posting to remember to read. Initial reaction, surely Power enables corruption?
The tricky part is that pretty much every political system rewards corruption with power. Not explicitly, of course, but it seems far easier to acquire in the first place when you have a low moral identity to begin with.
Quote from: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on February 18, 2015, 11:03:32 PM
The primary, DeCelles. I'm on a real computer now, so here's her website: http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/FacultyAndResearch/Faculty/FacultyBios/DeCelles.aspx
All of her research topics are pretty badass.
Bookmarked!
Quote from: N E T on February 20, 2015, 10:53:58 PM
Quote from: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on February 18, 2015, 11:03:32 PM
The primary, DeCelles. I'm on a real computer now, so here's her website: http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/FacultyAndResearch/Faculty/FacultyBios/DeCelles.aspx
All of her research topics are pretty badass.
Bookmarked!
Yeah, she is good. So random that I just sort of found her accidentally!
Damn, this is a fairly straightforward paper and I am so out of the habit of reading academic work that I can barely digest it. I'm going to have to come back to it later. It's interesting stuff, but it's been a solid seven years since I've sunk my teeth into research.