Page 226 - ILIAS ATHANASIADIS AKA RO1

Power abuse is an issue that most of us have experienced at some time,

whether we acknowledge it publicly or not.

Controversy and debate around this subject continues to gain ground and
interest, especially in the workplace.

According to a Vital Smarts study on workplace bullying, 96 percent of us say

we’ve experienced it, and 54 percent of bullies have been at it for years.

If you are part of that 96 percent, you know it hurts, it harms, and it leaves a
permanent impression, even though the wounds may not be physically obvious.

Abusive people gain and maintain power over their victim with controlling or

coercive behavior, and proceed to subject that person to psychological,
physical, sexual or financial abuse.

As we have seen from the media coverage of high-profile cases, abuse can go

on for years, often ignored, and worse encouraged by those who surround the
abuser. Inaction to stop abuse, is a form of abuse itself.

The psychology of power abuse

Understanding the psychology of abusers is important as well as understanding
why it may continue and possibly even increase.

Psychological studies in behavioral trends indicate that narcissism is on the

rise: "Approximately 70 percent of students today score higher on narcissist
scales than 30 years ago."

Research has found that narcissism inversely correlates to empathy. The

higher the score on the scale of narcissism, the lower the empathy exhibited.

Lack of empathy is considered one of the most telling narcissistic traits and one

of the most striking features of people with narcissistic personality disorder.