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The 48 Laws of PowerThe 48 Laws of Power
Rule 11Rule 11
““Pooh began to feel a little more Pooh began to feel a little more comfortable, because when you are a Bear comfortable, because when you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and you think of things, of Very Little Brain, and you think of things, you find sometimes that a Thing which you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very thingish inside you is quite seemed very thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.”has other people looking at it.”A.A. MilneA.A. MilneHouse of Pooh CornerHouse of Pooh Corner1928 c. 61928 c. 6
Why do people want power?Why do people want power?
Is power a good thing or a bad thing?Is power a good thing or a bad thing?
Where does power come from?Where does power come from?
What is the source of power…?What is the source of power…?
Big questions about power…
What is Power?What is Power?
What is it that we are talking about…?What is it that we are talking about…?
When we sayWhen we say
PowerPower
certain things come to certain things come to mind.mind.
There are some who are seeking it.
Some are using it…
Some have it thrust upon Some have it thrust upon themthem
Some try to take it.
Some are
symbols
of it.
Some play with it.
Remember that Remember that it comes it comes
in much subtler in much subtler forms…forms…
It’s here…
And here…
And here…
Yes,
here too.
The Dynamic of Power
Power is everywhere…
““Power is the probability that Power is the probability that one actor in a social relationship one actor in a social relationship
will carry out his own will will carry out his own will against the resistance of against the resistance of
others.”others.”
Max WeberMax Weber
Black Well Encyclopedia of Political ThoughtBlack Well Encyclopedia of Political Thought
“ “ Next to enjoying ourselves, Next to enjoying ourselves, the next greatest pleasure the next greatest pleasure
consists in preventing others consists in preventing others from enjoying themselves, or, from enjoying themselves, or,
more generally, in the more generally, in the acquisition of power.”acquisition of power.”
Bertrand RussellBertrand RussellSkeptical Essays (1928)Skeptical Essays (1928)
“The Recrudescence of Puritanism”“The Recrudescence of Puritanism”
““To know Others is knowledge,To know Others is knowledge,To know Yourself is insight.To know Yourself is insight.
To control Others is strength,To control Others is strength,
To control Yourself To control Yourself is True Power.”is True Power.”
Lao TzuLao TzuTao Te ChingTao Te Ching
Power is the process by Power is the process by which we turn people into which we turn people into
a means to an end a means to an end rather than an end in rather than an end in
themselves.themselves.
Eckhart TolleEckhart TolleThe Power of NowThe Power of Now
Consider how you Consider how you feelfeel
about power…about power…
Love it or hate it…Love it or hate it…
Want it or avoid it…Want it or avoid it…
Use it or judge it… Use it or judge it…
The Myths of PowerThe Myths of Power
• Power is a characteristic of a person –Power is a characteristic of a person –
- certain people are powerful- certain people are powerful
• Power is in things like money, sex Power is in things like money, sex and religion.and religion.
• There are types of power.There are types of power.
• Power is “out there.”Power is “out there.”
• We are powerless.We are powerless.
It is one thing to show a It is one thing to show a man that he is in an error,man that he is in an error, and another to put him in and another to put him in possession of the truth. possession of the truth.
John LockeJohn Locke
English PhilosopherEnglish Philosopher
1632-17041632-1704
Where does power come Where does power come from?from?
Where does power happen?Where does power happen?
What is the target of power?What is the target of power?
Where does Where does power power come from?come from?
Show me the money!
Can you bribe a
rich man?
Where does Where does
the the powerpower
in moneyin money come from?come from?
Feel the
power?
So when it comes to power…So when it comes to power…
Why and why not?Why and why not?
Where does the Where does the power come from?power come from?
Violence Force
What if
you
weren’t
afraid
to die?
Where does Where does power power come from?come from?
Is it about your soul ?
Why don’t all these
symbols matter to all
of us?
If Power isn't in the If Power isn't in the
moneymoney or or
sexsex or or
violenceviolenceoror
religionreligion
Where is it?Where is it?
Where is the power?Where is the power?
Why do these things work Why do these things work when they do and don’t work when they do and don’t work other times?other times?
Why can’t we bribe a rich Why can’t we bribe a rich man?man?
Because he doesn’t need the money.
The The Source of PowerSource of PowerisisNEEDNEED
“In the country of the blind, the one-eyed “In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is King.”man is King.”ErasmusErasmus(1469-1536)(1469-1536)
The Source of Power isThe Source of Power isNeed.Need.
Requirements, Desires and Requirements, Desires and AttachmentsAttachments
So where does power So where does power happen?happen?
Where does power exist?Where does power exist?
The Source of Power is The Source of Power is Need.Need.
Power is created Power is created insideinside
the Subject. the Subject. Power take place inside the mindPower take place inside the mind..
Needs are explained in many ways.Needs are explained in many ways.
Motivation TheoryMotivation TheoryHumanist PsychologyHumanist Psychology- - Maslow’s HierarchyMaslow’s Hierarchy
The following definitions of The following definitions of motivationmotivation were gleaned from were gleaned from a variety of psychology textbooks… a variety of psychology textbooks…
-internal state or condition that activates -internal state or condition that activates behavior and gives it direction; behavior and gives it direction;
-desire or want that energizes and directs -desire or want that energizes and directs goal-oriented behavior; goal-oriented behavior;
-influence of needs and desires on the -influence of needs and desires on the intensity and direction of behavior. intensity and direction of behavior.
Some distinguish between Some distinguish between ……
wants and needswants and needs
wisheswishes
desiresdesires
Self –Self –ActualizationActualization
EsteemEsteemBelongingBelonging
SecuritySecurityPhysiologicalPhysiological
Maslow’s HierarchyMaslow’s Hierarchy
BuddhaBuddha
Desires and AttachmentsDesires and Attachments
The best understanding of The best understanding of needs needs comes from the experience of comes from the experience of those who might find themselves those who might find themselves subject to power …subject to power …
so I prefer…so I prefer…
Requirements,Requirements, Desires Desires and and AttachmentsAttachments
RequirementsRequirements
““We are survival machines robot vehicles We are survival machines robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes.”molecules known as genes.”Richard DawkinsRichard Dawkins(1941- )(1941- )
DesiresDesires
“It is the nature of desire not to be satisfied, and “It is the nature of desire not to be satisfied, and most men live only for the gratification of it.”most men live only for the gratification of it.”
AristotleAristotle Politics II, 7 Politics II, 7
AttachmentsAttachmentsAttachments toAttachments to things things people people and and ideasideas
“I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of “I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as King as I would responsibility and to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.”wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.”Edward VIIIEdward VIIIDuke of Windsor 1894-Duke of Windsor 1894- In farewell address In farewell address
So what is the response?So what is the response?
Power is a Power is a mechanical mechanical process.process.It is the application It is the application by an Actor by an Actor of a Mechanism of Power of a Mechanism of Power to a need to a need within or about within or about a Subjecta Subject
Mechanisms of PowerMechanisms of Power
“Of course cash, culture, and violence are not the “Of course cash, culture, and violence are not the only Sources of Power in everyday life, and power is only Sources of Power in everyday life, and power is neither good nor bad. It is a dimension of virtually neither good nor bad. It is a dimension of virtually all human relationships. It is in fact the reciprocal of all human relationships. It is in fact the reciprocal of desire and since human desires are infinitely varied, desire and since human desires are infinitely varied, anything else’s desire is a potential Source of anything else’s desire is a potential Source of Power.”Power.”Alvin TofflerAlvin TofflerPowershift 1990Powershift 1990p. 12p. 12
More than things…More than things…MoneyMoneyLoveLoveSex Sex ForceForceAuthorityAuthorityReligionReligionLawLaw
An ABILITY to help or hinder An ABILITY to help or hinder the need of the Subject is the need of the Subject is applied to the need.applied to the need.
Actual or PotentialActual or Potential
Threat or PromiseThreat or Promise
Direct or IndirectDirect or Indirect
You or someone who matters to you…You or someone who matters to you…
What is the target What is the target of of
Power?Power?
What do we use power for?What do we use power for?
What are we trying to What are we trying to Control, Influence and Seduce?Control, Influence and Seduce?
ChoiceChoice
The purpose of power is to The purpose of power is to
control, influence or control, influence or seduceseduce the the choicechoice another person makes toanother person makes todo, say or think do, say or think something.something.
A new definition…A new definition…
Power is…Power is…
The application of an ability to a The application of an ability to a Need in the Subject, Need in the Subject,
With the intention to With the intention to
Control, Influence or SeduceControl, Influence or Seduce
the the ChoiceChoice
the Subject is about to make.the Subject is about to make.
The Mechanics of PowerThe Mechanics of Power
Copyright Les Smith 2005-2008, All rights reservedCopyright Les Smith 2005-2008, All rights reserved
When you think of When you think of PowerPower……
think of think of
Needs Needs and and
AbilitiesAbilities
Need of the Subject
Ability of the Actor
Intention of the Actor
to Control, Influence or Seduce
the Subject
by creating feelings of
Fear, Anger or Excitement in the Subject
PowerIn the form of
Control, Influence and Seduction
The
Power
Equation
How does power How does power feel?feel?
FearFearAngerAnger
ExcitementExcitementControl Control InfluenceInfluenceSeductionSeduction
Is Power Is Power a good thinga good thing
oror a bad thing?a bad thing?
Control is an IllusionControl is an Illusion
A truth about power…
The only thing we control is The only thing we control is how we respond to the how we respond to the circumstances before uscircumstances before us
A truth about power…A truth about power…
PowerPower
Destroys Destroys
Trust.Trust.Consider your experience…
Where do we go from Where do we go from here?here?
Let’s consider the way power Let’s consider the way power plays itself out in our world…plays itself out in our world…
Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking
Making better use of Making better use of
our minds our minds
and our language…and our language…
Let’s talk aboutLet’s talk about
• ChoiceChoice
• PerceptionPerception
• EmotionsEmotions
• InterpretationsInterpretations
• MechanismsMechanisms
• NeedsNeeds
• Strength and weaknessStrength and weakness
MechanismsMechanisms
• MoneyMoney
• AuthorityAuthority
• InformationInformation
• MusicMusic
• CelebrityCelebrity
• FamilyFamily
• Outstanding questions…Outstanding questions…
Essay Number TwoEssay Number Two
• Next weekNext week
• Similar in formatSimilar in format
• Pick tow relationships and consider Pick tow relationships and consider strategies for responding to and strategies for responding to and preventing power dynamicspreventing power dynamics
MoviesMovies
• Monday or Thursday?Monday or Thursday?
