Science shows us that many of those in authority are so used to wielding it that they are unaware of their privilege, says cultural thinker Suzanne Alleyne
Science shows us that many of those in authority are so used to wielding it that they are unaware of their privilegePhotograph: Westend61 GmbH/AlamyPhotograph: Westend61 GmbH/Alamyhe thing that people with power don’t know is what it’s like to have little or no power.
I call this research the neurology of power. It involves looking at the sociological explanations of power as well as the neuroscientific underpinnings. Being in a state of powerlessness leads to perpetual stress. That stress trains our bodies to be on the alert for it, compromising our productivity and happiness in situations where others – those who have never experienced that sense of powerlessness – are left to thrive.
Feldman argues that this process is so fundamental to the architecture of the brain that it extends to our mental states. Our emotions arise from our brain’s calculations of the physical, metabolic needs of our bodies. Predicting a dangerous situation requiring us to flee results in physical changes and discomfort we register as anxiety.
This research legitimised what I always knew. Power wires the powerful for power; but it can also wire them against people without power. You can lose your empathy. And power is critical for wellbeing.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NASDAQ’s Integral Ad Science calls for Aussie microcap AdveritasAd fraud prevention software company Adveritas is in the crosshairs of NASDAQ-listed Integral Ad Science, which wants to buy the company for about $50 million.
Read more »
‘We can act as one on this’: Ed Husic tackling climate change in AustraliaIndustry and Science Minister Ed Husic says Australia’s climate is warming at an increasing rate – at 1.47 degrees since records began over a century ago. “In a nutshell what that means, is there’s an increased risk of more fires, more flood, more extreme heat more often,” Mr Husic said. “We have an ability to act – all of us in being able to respond, and also to prepare in particular industry. “We can act as one on this, it just takes a government to take the science seriously.”
Read more »
AI’s future: No Terminators but it may help manage cancerArtificial intelligence may still have the sheen of science fiction and while it’s unlikely to create killer robots, the CSIRO says it might help with cancer detection.
Read more »
‘It pains me’: Anthony Fauci bids the public farewell, with regrets“People who take science seriously” need to speak up more, said the public face of America’s COVID response, “because the other side that just keeps putting out misinformation”.
Read more »
Diversity ‘more than just women’, says STEM review chiefSally-Ann Williams knows what it’s like to forge a career in science and technology as an outsider. Now she’s hoping to make it easier for others.
Read more »
Labor’s IR bill is a ‘real worry’ and gives unions ‘more power’The government’s industrial relations bill will “give unions more power” as “payback for all their money and support for bankrolling Labor into power,” according to Sky News host Chris Kenny. “This gives unions more power to threaten, obstruct and dictate terms to businesses, small and large,” Mr Kenny said. “It allows for multi-employer bargaining, which will lead to industry-wide strike action, industry-wide cost increases, industry-wide additional costs on business.” Mr Kenny said the bill will cost jobs as opposed to boosting real wages. “This is a real worry, inflation is already too high of course … wages are already falling backwards in real terms faster under Labor, and cost of living pressures are still going up, under Labor. “Giving more power to unions, making life even tougher for small business – well, that’s only going to make things worse.”
Read more »