We are going through a period of increasing wars and geopolitical tensions in many parts of the world. Especially the war in Iran, the situation in Ukraine and the conflicts in the Middle East have again placed the concept of “power” at the center of global politics. The decisions taken by world leaders, from Washington to Moscow, from Beijing to Tehran, directly affect not only countries but also the lives of millions of people. The psychology and mental processes behind these decisions have attracted the attention of the scientific world in recent years. New research shows that the way people with political and corporate power perceive the world may differ from ordinary people. In fact, according to some scientists, this difference is so obvious that people in powerful positions can act as if they were “living in another universe.” Okan University Sociology Department Head Dr. Faculty Member İlker Çayla evaluated the research on the decision-making process of those in power.
IT CHANGES THE BRAIN
According to the research, some of the brain’s mechanisms related to empathy and social perception may be weakened in people who command great power. Researchers note that a type of neurological radar that “scans” the emotions of others may dull over time. The main reason for this is that the behavior of powerful people often does not cause serious social consequences, and therefore the feedback mechanism is weakened. Other studies in neuroscience point to similar results. Research shows that the “mirror neuron” system associated with empathy may work weaker in the brain of individuals who feel powerful.. This system normally makes it easier to understand the actions and emotions of others. However, it was determined that these neural responses may decrease when the feeling of power increases.
DIFFERENT REALITIES
Evaluating the research, Çayla stated that some brain connections, especially those related to social information processing and empathy, can differ with social status and said: “These findings bring into question the common observation that those in power sometimes live in a reality disconnected from the rest of society. From a sociological perspective, this is not actually a new idea. For example, Pierre Bourdieu says that people perceive the world according to their social position. According to him, not everyone sees the same reality. Our social position, education, relationships, and resources shape the way we perceive the world.. In other words, as power increases, the perception of reality changes to some extent. This is exactly what Bourdieu calls ‘habitus’.”
DIFFERENT SOCIAL Spheres
Emphasizing that people think and feel within the social environment they are in, Çayla said: “Senior managers, political elites or economic elites live in a different social network. In this network, information flows differently, problems appear differently, and everyday life is different. Therefore, perception also differs. For example, Peter Sloterdijk says that modern society does not consist of a single reality.. According to him, society consists of different ‘social spheres’ or small atmospheres. The financial world, the political world, academia or the media produce their own social bubbles. The longer people live in these bubbles, the less they feel the experiences of others. “The most important result is that the perception gap grows.”
PERCEPTION OF REALITY IS DIFFERENT
Çayla made the following determinations: “While people in higher positions often see opportunities and growth, lower segments may feel uncertainty and risk. When the distance between these two experiences grows, a feeling of ‘they do not understand us’ emerges in society. This difference in perception lies behind the anti-elite discourses that have risen in many countries in recent years. So it’s definitely not just about the economy. Economic inequality is important, but it’s also a matter of perception. As people live in different social worlds, they interpret reality differently. Society is a structure in which not only resources but also perceptions of reality are unequally distributed.”
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