Why do people want so much control?

Answer 1

Many people feel out of control in their lives, and doubtful of their ability to handle what the world throws at them.

To compensate for their own doubts and fears, they seek to control everything around them -- to create a buffer through which anything external must pass.

Also, when a person lacks conviction or confidence in their own beliefs, they often try to force others to follow the same beliefs -- on the theory that the more people who believe it, the more likely it is to be correct.

And some people are just evil and want to control others. I personally define evil as that which seeks to interfere with free will for any purpose other than self-survival.

Answer 2

I think it starts in childhood for some people. The parent has ultimate power and can do or say anything and the child covets that as its held over his head. Then as he grows he see's the material worlds shallow concept of power (money, possetions) and learns that people with these things get special perks, attention, and favor. If there is no strong family or community bond the kind of power most people lust for is not true power. The shallow material power is control. Control over money, assests and meaningless social prejudice developes if the character of a person is not nurtured when at its most impressionable.

True power is that of a leader, a healer, a helper. Someone who goes out of their way to promote a cause or better life for their fellow man (or animal) Someone who would go through pain, humiliation, and possibly even being sanctioned by law or government to break the chains of oppression or raise up their voice against an injustice.
But that is not what is valued in popular culture, which seems to raise children now more than ever.

So I credit this power hungry mind to the lack of strong communities, the acceptance of high levels of corruption from the highest ranks of politics to the lowest town clerk, the low value placed on morals and character, and the widespread consumerisim that invokes a 'throw away' mentality.

Answer 3

Why do THE people want so much control? It has to do with a cool little document called the Constitution. 10th amendment to be exact.

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people."

In other words, we have complete control over what the government does not and then some.

Answer 4

Individuals desire it to, in their minds, elevate themselves beyond "common folk" which is why many rulers throughout history have claimed different levels of divine intervention in their leadership. Masses crave it to balance out their societies against the corruption and oppression set up for them by the individuals in power.

Answer 5

Fear! Remember Napolean Bonaparte? It seems like it is derived out of one's own feeling of smallness - whether it be physical stature, or mental. Bullies, for example, are often larger than those bullied - but, it seems to be a state of mind, and feeling of inadequacy.

Answer 6

Because if you don't have enough control then you are letting others control you.

Answer 7

control = power and with no power people feel weak

Answer 8

Because it makes us feel powerful. Also, once you have had a little taste, it's like a drug...you don't want to lose that high.

Answer 9

Their feeble egos lead them to believe that only they have all the answers, which of course is incorrect.

Answer 10

control rocks !