Interesting and complicated
Interesting and fairly complicated article at Economist. Social "scientists" are having an honest dispute about the effects of hierarchical power. Some studies show that having power makes you willing to use it for evil; others show that having power makes you more generous.

One thing instantly pops out: The power=evil studies were done in PHYSICAL REALITY. Students went out and watched drivers, and observed what every pedestrian and bicyclist knows. Mercedes and BMW and high-end SUVs have no brakes or reverse. Rich drivers will SPEED UP to improve their chances of hitting a pedestrian. Non-rich drivers have brakes and reverse, and have analog throttle controls. They will slow down or even stop to let a pedestrian survive.

The power=good studies come from SELF-REPORTING SURVEYS. Should be fairly obvious. I don't know why there's even a controversy.

The article quotes one of the power=evil researchers:

Keltner also lectures, telling companies and government departments that too much power is bad for individuals, bad for society, bad for commerce. They’re not always pleased to hear it. “When you meet a group of venture capitalists and start telling them how inequality is damaging our nervous systems,” he says, “it’s like walking into a room full of atheists and talking to them about intelligent design. They prickle.”

Inequality is damaging the nervous system? Not a good extrapolation, and the VCs love the idea. If being rich makes them more likely to get richer and more able to slaughter Negative Externalities without pausing for reflection, so much the better.

Overall, power is certainly good for the powerful one. When everyone obeys your commands you live a long time. Orchestra conductors hit 100 routinely.

But all of this is pretty much irrelevant. If you're not innately impressive or attractive, you WILL NOT GET INTO A POSITION where people will obey you. Impressive and attractive = healthy. Genes rule.

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The article also mentions Zimbardo's famous prison simulation. After two weeks Zimbardo's guards were ferociously evil, happily torturing and whipping the prisoners.

Problem: All of Zimbardo's students were white nerds. What happens in a real prison is pretty much the opposite. Black prisoners are stronger and more ready to use force than whites, so they end up running the place and giving orders to the hacks. The guards have ultimate authority if they want to use it, but they're too scared to use it. Genes rule.

Labels: Ethics, Grand Blueprint

  ¶ 12:13 PM