Brut McKay here and welcome to another edition of the Art of Manliness podcast.

Why do corrupt people end up in power?

By way of an answer, you probably think of that famous quote from Lord Acton.

Power tends to corrupt absolute power corrupts absolutely.

But my guest today, Brian Klass, would say that's only one part of what leads to corrupt

individuals and cultures.

The other being that people who are already corrupt are more likely to seek power in the

first place.

Brian argues that if we ever hope to develop better systems from our national governments

to our office hierarchies, we have to work on both prongs of this dynamic, not only preventing

people who gain power from going bad, but encouraging good people to seek power as well.

Brian is the author of corruptible, who gets power and how it changes us.

Today on the show, he and I discuss how people who possess the so-called dark triad of

traits are more attracted to positions of power, how they're framing around those positions

can either amplify or alter the self-selection effect, and would a tyrannical homeowners association

president and a psychopathic school janitor show us about these dynamics.

We also discuss why power does indeed corrupt people and can in fact change their very brain

chemistry.

Brian explains the importance of accountability and keeping a system clean and how you can

serve and positions of power without being corrupted yourself.

After the show's over, check out our show notes at aum.ias-power-corrupts.

Alright Brian class, welcome to the show.

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