How Power Corrupts

The news abounds with stories of powerful men behaving badly. It’s a depressing yet predictable spectacle – those in positions of power can’t help but help themselves to the help. They scream at underlings and have sex with the secretaries; they assault hotel maids (or at least are accused of such) and sleep with the nanny. The question, of course, is what motivates this awful behavior? Why does power corrupt?

Psychologists refer to this as the paradox of power.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/05/how-power-corrupts/

The Power Trip

Contrary to the Machiavellian cliché, nice people are more

likely to rise to power. Then something strange happens:

Authority atrophies the very talents that got them there.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704407804575425561952689390.html