Psychologist Natasha Vasic: Why does the world lead by emotionless people?

There is a saying among the people: “Give a person power, and you will see what they are like.” Believe it or not, a large number of psychologists and other scientists have become interested in this phenomenon, leading to numerous studies aimed at examining whether power brings out the worst in people, or if individuals with a certain personality structure are more inclined to engage in the struggle for power.

Under the influence of Nietzsche’s philosophy, Adler initially wrote about the drive for superiority as the primary motivating force in humans. Later, he categorized the drive for superiority as a neurotic, unhealthy desire, whose roots actually lie in feelings of inferiority. The development of the drive for superiority is a way for individuals to cope with feelings of low self-worth.

In addition to compensation and inferiority complexes as reactions to psychological inferiority, a superiority complex can also develop. A superiority complex involves masking feelings of inferiority with superior behavior. Such individuals treat others as less valuable to create a sense of superiority within themselves. You can recognize these individuals by their arrogance, boastfulness, claiming others’ achievements as their own, bullying, and insulting others based on race, gender, or religion. They are often found in high positions, where the doors to such behaviors are wide open.

World history is replete with seriously disturbed minds who have led states while oppressing their populations and committing genocide against other nations. Caligula instilled fear wherever he appeared. He was known for various brutalities in public places, including chewing on the genitals of his victims. Ivan the Terrible fed human heads to dogs, Vlad the Impaler forced men to eat their wives’ severed breasts, and Elizabeth Bathory is accused of murdering over 600 maidens so she could bathe in their blood, believing it would ensure her eternal youth. Unfortunately, these are not exceptions but just a few among thousands of similar examples. In more recent history, we have Hitler, Mao Zedong, whose hands are stained with the blood of around 45 million people, and Belgian King Leopold, who killed 10 million Congolese and even posed for photos in front of mounds of corpses. That brutal practices are far from finished can be confirmed by watching the news on a daily basis.

Zvonko Djokic, a neuropsychiatrist and psychotherapist, speaking about the prevalence of individuals with psychiatric disorders in key societal positions, points to the alarming impact of politics and politicians on the destruction of natural resources essential for life, with consequences that are already irreversible. This trend is not characteristic only of underdeveloped countries but is ubiquitous, making it clear that psychopaths universally tend to obsess over power. Another issue, according to Djokic, is the lack of adequate responses from the relevant institutions, which is also a universal phenomenon. All the privileges that leaders of relevant institutions have are clearly used to incite panic, make catastrophic predictions, and blame individuals, ordinary people, regardless of whether the issue is excessive emissions of harmful gases or the planet being overwhelmed by plastic waste. There is no talk of any concrete actions directed against the direct culprits, multinational corporations.

Kevin Dutton, a psychologist and specialist in psychopathy, has created a list of the most attractive jobs for psychopaths, with leadership positions topping the list. Psychopaths are characterized by manifest self-confidence, charm, and good social adaptation compared to other psychiatric disorders, as well as superficial charm, manipulativeness, absence of empathy, guilt, and anxiety. All of this allows them to present themselves very favorably in social and business interactions. Charm, charisma, grandiosity—which can be misinterpreted as self-confidence—and the ability to be persuasive are traits that help psychopaths succeed in the business world.

In the book “Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work,” Dr. Paul Babiak and Dr. Robert Hare explain that psychopaths are good at “reading” people, recognizing their desires, needs, affinities, and weaknesses, which allows them to easily manipulate others. Additionally, psychopaths are generally very skilled at communication. This skill is often merely a facade that enables them to jump straight to the point, as they lack the social inhibitions that most people possess. Besides all mentioned traits, psychopaths are masters at leaving a good impression and steering the waters in their favor.

Due to their quick decision-making, cool-headedness, lack of emotional involvement, ability to take risks, stoic emotional self-control, unscrupulousness, absence of guilt and remorse, and immense self-confidence, individuals with such personality structures are even sought after for leadership positions by experienced recruiters, while the same profile is avoided in hiring for non-leadership positions, especially in roles requiring empathy, such as medical staff or therapists of various profiles.

However, despite the absence of compassion and all the aforementioned flaws, psychopaths are, thanks to their boldness and need for prominence and dominance, ready for great feats when it serves their interests and satisfies some of their desires and needs. A well-known case is that of an Australian businessman who, during the tsunami that devastated Thailand, single-handedly saved twenty people. It later turned out he had been on the run from Australian police for years due to charges of assault and robbery. A British firefighter awarded for heroism during the 2005 terrorist attack in London is now serving a 14-year prison sentence for his involvement in a cocaine trafficking ring.

However, the most well-known valued figures, recognized for their innovative ideas that also exhibited psychopathic tendencies, include Steve Jobs, who parked in disabled spots, intimidated employees, and was ultimately fired from his own company, as well as Elon Musk, who is known for displaying narcissism and aggressive conflicts with investors, the media, and employees.

After experiencing the horrors orchestrated by Hitler’s regime in his youth, Polish psychologist Andrew Lobaczewski dedicated himself to studying the relationship between psychological disorders and politics. He was interested in why psychopaths and narcissists are so attracted to power and the takeover of other governments and states. Further research inspired him to coin the term “pathocracy,” used to describe governments led by psychopaths.

In America, there is also a convention, known as Goldwater’s Rule, which states that psychologists should not unofficially comment on the mental state of public figures who have not undergone assessment. This convention came into effect in 1964 after psychologists commented on the mental suitability of Senator Barry Goldwater. In recent years, this convention has been under fire from psychologists who detail and frequently comment on the mental state of President Donald Trump.

For someone who loves to dominate, possesses power over others, and does not suffer from guilt or empathy, there is no better occupation than that of a leader in a large system or a politician. If we analyze the state of affairs, we will see that throughout known history, just as today, influential positions have been awarded to those who should never have been given such roles. The need for power correlates with negative personality traits such as selfishness, greed, unscrupulousness, and lack of empathy. The desire to govern, to subjugate others, and to control simply does not align with compassionate individuals who cherish love for people, the planet, and above all, themselves.