Power

We studied the Milgram and Zimbardo experiments today in class.

The guards in the Stanford experiment were normal students became very perverse, abusive individuals.

These studies investigate the effects of a power superior/subordinate relationship. What comes to my mind is how even church relationships can be abused. Especially after we've discussed how Machiavelli's writings were influenced by the Medici family, who thought they were divinely appointed. How will regular people behave when they take on the role of "guard", flouting authority, or even "priest" or "bishop", granting pardon. Zimardo says it's likely that people will go bad if they're placed in positions of power.

We took a quiz on how Machiavellian we were. And I scored pretty high. Well that's because here is an example of a Machiavellian mindset "Anyone who completely trusts anyone else is asking for trouble". EVER SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH A SALESMAN? They've got the most information and therefore the most power. And it doesn't matter what the salesman can actually do, it's what he makes other people think he can do.

I am more cynical about people now after I've heard anecdotal evidence of salesmen totally working over the average person. Trust, but verify. And some for some groups, trust none of them.