Why do people abuse their power and influence?

Question

Why is it that some people in positions of authority use their "power" to belittle and pick on others?

Answer 1

Fear and weak character - that their power over others will be lost, or that they will be revealed as weak, because they know deep down that they have done nothing to deserve the power they have. "Acting powerful" is defensive. In general, the less legitimate the power and the more insecure the person, the more cruel and arbitrary the rule.

Powerful people who use their power in a helpful way and don't pick on their inferiors, are people who haven't invested their ego in controlling other people... they know that without the power, they are still good respectable people.

Answer 2

once they have been put on that pedestal, they tend to not want to go back where they left off, and with all that power, they become a different person all together. Not only do they do the things that are needed they also want to do the things they want, regardless of who they hurt in the end even if it means total destruction of a system. that's how dictatorships and tyrannies happen, that is another reason why, unfortunately how great it sounds, Anarchy will never work (oh how i wish it would!)

Answer 3

Greed. Instead to learn carefully what is given, people want more of it.Only way to get more is to take power from people... That is why we feel so powerless facing brutal stupidity of our leaders. For those, overloaded by power there is only way to go down sooner or later..matter of time..and when those misusers goes down, unfortunately they taking with them many of those whom put blind belief in them.,.Resistance not to lose a bit of it creates sacrificial lambs..people dying for sake of Country, Leaders, Ideas,implemented by power holders for them to be able to sustain their own power over those whom later would be sacrificed ..

Answer 4

Because power turns some (not all) people into bullies.

Answer 5

Because when they were younger, they were picked on and teased and the tables have turned, now they can do whatever they want. Good for them!

Answer 6

And they will do in front of people too. It's to make them look like a big shot.

Answer 7

It goes to their HEAD and because of how long and hard its been to get to this position, they have to relish in it. By treating others as to be little them.

Answer 8

Comfort.

Answer 9

Basic insecurity.

Answer 10

"Power does corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely"

T'is the nature of man to wish to rule - T'is also the nature of man to disregard boundaries