… Researchers found that subjects assigned leadership roles were buffered from the negative effects of lying. Across all measures, the high-power liars — the leaders — resembled truthtellers, showing no evidence of cortisol reactivity (which signals stress), cognitive impairment or feeling bad. In contrast, low-power liars — the subordinates — showed the usual signs of stress and slower reaction times. “Having power essentially buffered the powerful liars from feeling the bad effects of lying, from responding in any negative way or giving nonverbal cues that low-power liars tended to reveal,” Carney explains.

- Powerful Lies at Columbia Business School
2010-01-22

[via Bruce Schneier]

New evidence toward a proof of the sucker hierarchy..?

Not being seen allows a god to have much greater powers without the human analog constantly being bothered to perform miracles. The Priests still get bothered some, but they can simply promise to “put in a good word.” They can also much more plausibly ask for money than can someone claiming to be omnipotent.

- God Wants You Dead
by Sean Hastings and Paul Rosenberg

Middle management enables hierarchy.

In a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence.

- Laurence J. Peter

People who are insulated from the results of their choices will inevitably choose cause for others’ regret.

Take a look around – chances are that you are either capable, in middle management, a teacher, and/or useless.