The world’s biggest problem? Powerful psychopaths. | Brian Klaas
July 12, 2023
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1:59:57Now PlayingThe world’s biggest problem? Powerful psychopaths. | Brian Klaas
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as posted by the channelBecome a Big Think member to unlock expert classes, premium print issues, exclusive events and moreProfessor Brian Klass unpacks the truth behind history’s evil leaders, explaining how they so easily acquire power, and how we can change the pattern.
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How people choose to wield their power affects our daily lives, whether it’s a dictator or simply an obnoxiously officious member of a homeowner’s association. Brian Klaas, a political scientist and author of "Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How it Changes Us,” joins Big Think to talk about the nature of power, the people who are drawn to it, and the ways we can improve how power is wielded within institutions.
So, what’s one way to ensure that reasonable people rise to positions of power? Klaas proposes the strategy of asking politicians a fairly straightforward question before they take office: What would it take for you to think that you are no longer necessary in power? Answers to questions like these can reveal deep insights into what kind of a leader a person is likely to be.
An intro to power
Who gains power and why?
Psychopathy and the ‘dark triad’
Stopping the “worst person in the world”
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About Brian Klaas:
Associate Professor of Global Politics at University College London, Contributing Writer for The Atlantic, author of Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us, and Creator/Host of the award-winning Power Corrupts podcast.
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