People in power make better liars, study shows

[brentspeak]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35836844/ns/business-careers/?GT1=43001

Findings suggest that dishonesty comes more easily to those on top

By Eve Tahmincioglu
msnbc.com contributor
updated 6:22 p.m. ET, Sun., March. 14, 2010

by Eve Tahmincioglu
msnbc.com contributor
updated 6:22 p.m. ET, Sun., March. 14, 2010

snip

There’s old saying: power corrupts. And a new Columbia Business School study titled, “People with Power are Better Liars,” finds there may be some truth behind the cliché.

“People in power are able to lie better,” said Dana Carney, a management professor at Columbia Business School and one of the co-authors of the study. “It just doesn’t hurt them as much to do it.”

snip

“Power, it seems, enhances the same emotional, cognitive, and physiological systems that lie-telling depletes. People with power enjoy positive emotions, increases in cognitive function, and physiological resilience such as lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Thus, holding power over others might make it easier for people to tell lies.”

[SharonAnn]

1. Maybe they're in power because they lie better?

[Bryn]

6. This reminds me of case of "Who is Clark Rockefeller?"

a true story that was shown on TV recently. Amazing how he got away for so many years, fooling so many people, his wife of 12 years included. This guy claimed to be a Rockefeller and got accepted by wealthy people into their clubs. His wealthy wife didn't bother to check his background.

[Cirque du So-What]

7. That was my first thought upon seeing the title of this thread

Sort of a 'which came first - the chicken or the egg?' dilemma. Personally, I lean toward being better liars leading to power. First of all, social climbers and those climbing the corporate ladder must master the art of telling people what they want to hear; that always involves some degree of distortion, lest they find themselves kicked unceremoniously back among the hoi polloi. That holds true once social status and/or real power are obtained. Who among this crowd remains popular or in power by telling the unvarnished truth all the time? FWIW, I have no delusions about my own destiny among the high & mighty. I have a reputation for pissing off people due to my propensity to tell people what I think of them and to speak candidly - even when fragile egos are on the line. In fact, it's amazing that I've achieved the modest degree of success I've enjoyed thus far. At this stage of my life, I'm not about to change and start smooching the boss' backside or fawining over my 'social betters.'

[Uncle Joe]

2. This could explain why Bush was such a piss poor liar and Cheney was so adept at it.

Thanks for the thread, brentspeak.

[cherokeeprogressive]

3. This is like cart before the horse for me. I cannot think of one person in power who didn't lie to

get there. NOT ONE.

[Donnachaidh]

4. no DUH n/t

[elleng]

5. Sociopaths.

[treestar]

8. So that would include anyone who wins

Even Kucinich, Nader, etc.

[progressoid]

9. Considering how much power each of them has, they don't seem to be very good at it.

[treestar]

13. Anyone elected to federal office has power

No one is a liar simply because they don't agree with everyone else, or NOT a liar simply because they don't agree with the majority, or their opinion is a minority opinion.

That would make freepers truth tellers as much as progressives, make Bachman as much of a truth teller as Kucinich.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

10. And you post this in GD: Presidency because?

You're calling Obama a liar?

[unblock]

11. ^^^ nominated for the "reading too much into it" award!

although i'll also nominate you for the best username EVER!!!

CLASSIC!!

:rofl:

[treestar]

12. Well there does seem to be a hint there

that anyone who wins high office is good at lying - a conclusion too cynical for me.

[unblock]

14. if i had a dime for every post in this forum that wasn't strictly about obama,....

[asdjrocky]

15. In other news-

rain is wet.

[slampoet]

16. They aren't better liars. They just punish those who call them out on their shit.

[Jennicut]

17. We all lie. It is just some lies are bigger then others.

And I have lied in the past. I lied to my boyfriend (who I am now married to) when I didn't go to class in college one morning. He caught me when I asked him what the weather was outside as we were going to lunch. It was raining. I should have none that if I went to class. Oops. I ditched class and he was upset with me. I was always a terrible liar...