Professor Adam Galinsky of Northwestern University in the United States conducted an interesting experiment. He divided participants into two groups. Group A was asked to recall a time when they gave orders to someone else, while Group B was asked to remember a time when they were given orders by someone else. After that, everyone was told to draw the letter E on their own forehead.
Surprisingly, 88% of Group B drew the E in a way that others could read it correctly, while only 67% of Group A did the same. A similar experiment looked at mirror neurons, which are closely tied to empathy. Again, Group B—those who had recalled following orders—showed active mirror neurons, but Group A showed very little activity.
These results suggest that when people are in positions of power, they tend to become more self-centered and less empathetic. It supports writer Henry Adams’s statement that “power is a kind of tumor that kills empathy.” Research has even shown that hormonal and neurological changes in people with power can reduce their ability to empathize with others.
Whether in families, schools, or workplaces, many of us will find ourselves in leadership roles at some point. But unless we’re aware of this psychological tendency, we can unknowingly become inconsiderate or even disrespectful. That’s why it’s so important to reflect on how we treat those with less power—even in small actions or offhand remarks.