Power can lead to brain damage, according to studies by neuroscientists. Dacher Keltner, a professor of psychology at Berkeley, and Sukhvinder Obhi, a neuroscientist at McMaster University in Ontario, have found that people in positions of power tend to become less empathetic. This is due to a neurological phenomenon known as ‘mirroring’, which is reduced in those with power.
Mirroring is a process where the brain mimics the emotions of others to understand their feelings. It’s a crucial part of empathy, and its reduction can lead to an ’empathy deficit’ in powerful individuals. This lack of empathy can cause them to become more impulsive, reckless, and out of touch with other people’s feelings and needs.
Keltner’s and Obhi’s research also showed that this effect can be temporary. When people lose their power, their capacity for empathy can return. This suggests that power doesn’t permanently damage the brain, but can temporarily change how it functions.
Their findings have significant implications for how society is structured and how power is distributed. Understanding the neurological effects of power can help us create systems that mitigate its damaging effects. It could also inform how we educate and train leaders, helping them to remain empathetic and responsible, even when in positions of power.
Go to source article: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/07/power-causes-brain-damage/528711/