In a remark to myrecent articleabout the extent of Trump-like corruption the American public is willing to accept, Sabrina Haake (who writes...
In a remark to myrecent articleabout the extent of Trump-like corruption the American public is willing to accept, Sabrina Haake (who writes the “Haake Take”) wrote:
I truly wish to explore in depth how power influences the brain. A powerful addiction, as you mentioned. but it warrants a dedicated study in this era ofTrump, following its full acquisition…”
That's a significant question, and the exposure of Epstein's ties to Trump and many — possibly hundreds — of wealthy and influential men, along with their exploitation of vulnerable children, once more demonstrates how this addiction distorts actions, ruins lives, and undermines democracies.
Throughout much of our history, Americans have held the belief that political power is temporarily given to leaders who act in the interest of the public.
However, contemporary neuroscience and social psychology are uncovering something more perilous and thought-provoking: power is not merely held by an individual; it transforms the human mind fundamentally.
And — as Trump's masked secret police mistreat individuals without any consequences, and his supporters applaud it withbizarre videos, as Republicans support additional tax reductions for billionaires while denying healthcare and food to the poor, as Ghislaine Maxwell is regarded as a princess while her victims are vilified — we are witnessing how this has distorted and harmed our country.
Place a person in a uniform and grant him unchecked authority over life and death, and it transforms him. Bestow a president absolute immunity for any crimes he commits, and it releases a darkness that no nation should endure.
As our democracy faces pressure from Trump's constant desire for control, the science poses a troubling question:Are we experiencing the effects of a harmful obsession with authority, and if so, what implications does this hold for the future of our nation?
Scholars from Berkeley to Columbia have found that when individuals experience a sense of power, the brain enters what researchers refer to as an "approach state." Dopamine-related reward pathways become more active. The world appears more straightforward, cheerful, and manageable.
Self-assurance increases. Warnings diminish. And compassion, that subtle inner compass that resonates with others' emotions, grows less attuned.
Many recall when the world's wealthiest individual — who was responsible for the dismantling of USAID, which has already resulted in theloss of hundreds of thousands of lives— revealed how wealth and influence had affected hima revealing comment to an interviewer:
The core vulnerability of Western civilization lies in empathy. The exploitation of this empathy. They are taking advantage of a flaw within Western civilization, which is the empathetic reaction.
In a notable study, researchers employed brain imaging to assess how the brain "mirrors" — genuinely feels and comprehends — others' experiences. Individuals who received praise, compliments, and narratives that placed them in a high-power state exhibited reduced mirroring, indicating their brains became less responsive to those nearby.
In the past, this has been a definition ofevil. Less connected. Less compassionate. Less attentive to others since they can no longer genuinely sense what others are going through internally.
This change in brain function doesn't always lead powerful individuals to act immorally, but this outcome is frequently observed, and when it occurs, it can result in severe consequences for others or those under their authority.
Here's where contemporary politics — especially the Trump administration, Epstein, and the lawmakers at the heart of today's Republican Party — come into play.
Psychologists have long recognized three personality characteristics referred to as theDark TriadNarcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. Individuals with these characteristics seek prestige and praise. They experience minimal remorse. They perceive relationships as exchanges.
For them, authority is not a means to influence decisions: authority is the end in itself. It is thereward. The psychological oxygen.
When individuals possessing these traits acquire authority, dominance is redefined as patriotism, brutality is perceived as resilience, and focus is transformed into a resource.
We can observe that this desire for power has not only influenced Donald Trump's life but has also transformed the entire conservative movement. The entire Republican Party. Especially — particularly among regular people who spend significant time consuming right-wing media — our national story, the narrative we share about our identity and the meaning of our country.
Neuroscience offers another caution: losing power can resemble a withdrawal experience.
We are witnessing this at the moment as Donald Trump struggles, losing control over his party and supporters. Referring to a journalist as "Piggy." Catering to a foreign dictator who is providing his family with billions.
We view it as Republican senators inserting a provision into the bill that compels the government togive each of them a millionUse of public funds, or assist in concealing Epstein's wrongdoing.
For an individual whose sense of self is deeply tied to control, losing an election—or being held responsible—can be unbearable. This leads to a desperate effort to regain authority at all costs, even if it involves attacking systems and eroding foundations.elections, or persuading millions that democracy itself is unreliable.
This is how republics decline, mirroring the "narcissistic collapse" thatI’ve written about before.
It frequently starts with a mental descent as one leader's urgent desire to maintain control combines with the anxieties and resentments of millions of his supporters, leading the entire country to be caught in his dependency.
So, what actions should we take? It seems that the solution to the risk of power is democracy itself.
Distributed authority. Controlled authority. Open authority. A system of checks and balances ensuring that no single individual becomes the central focus around which the country revolves.
So the issue we confront today — the issue that both scienceandhistory compels us to face - is this:
“How will We, the PeopleTrump, his MAGA movement, and the GOP attack us as they face losing the almost complete power they currently have, which was given to them by six corrupt Supreme Court justices?
・Will we rise and voice our opinions?
· Will we resist their efforts to militarize our country and scare us into giving in?
- Will we revoke their tax benefits and exemptions, compelling them to return to the reality that everyone else experiences?
・Will we come together to support one another, along with the courageous politicians and leaders who are prepared to endanger their lives and careers by standing up against oppression?
Or will we as a country — similar to how the Germans and Italians did in the 1930s, how the Russians and Hungarians have done in the last twenty years, how many in today's GOP are currently doing — give in to an obsession with power and accept that having a "Dear Leader" and a one-party system is acceptable?
The choice is ours.
