Summary of "Power Causes Brain Damage" by Jerry Useem
This article explores how power can impair a person's brain functions, supported by research in psychology and neuroscience. Studies reveal that power diminishes empathy, self-awareness, and the ability to perceive others' perspectives—traits often essential for gaining power initially. Researchers like Dacher Keltner and Sukhvinder Obhi have demonstrated that power suppresses "mirroring" processes in the brain, which are critical for empathy and understanding others.
Key examples include John Stumpf, the former Wells Fargo CEO, whose inability to read social cues during a congressional hearing highlights these impairments. The article links this phenomenon to the "power paradox," where individuals lose the social skills that helped them rise to power.
The effects of power are not always detrimental, as it can enhance efficiency by filtering out peripheral information. However, this can lead to stereotypical thinking and reliance on personal "vision," often resulting in poor decision-making.
Historical anecdotes and contemporary examples illustrate how figures like Winston Churchill and Indra Nooyi relied on "toe holders" or grounding influences to counteract the isolating effects of power. The article also discusses "hubris syndrome," a proposed disorder characterized by reckless behavior and a loss of touch with reality, which often afflicts long-standing leaders.
Ultimately, the article suggests that staying grounded and recalling past powerlessness can mitigate power's negative effects, but systemic solutions to this issue remain elusive.
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