Why do Politicians become Bullies?

Why do politicians become bullies? Politicians are trusted elected officials who are skilled at managing resources, meeting voter needs, and working toward the greater good. However, when placed in an arena with other politicians dedicated to the same mission, resources become scarce, and successes are rare, or eked out by others in higher positions of power. Working in an environment where it is not about how trustworthy or honest the politician is, or even about being a promise-keeper, politicians begin using other tactics to push their agendas.  Politicians become overwhelmed by compassion fatigue and unmet constituent needs, which often drive them to engage in bullying-like behavior, including character assassination, creating communication silos, and promoting underground manipulation schemes among peers. The environment in which politicians work is toxic and is a perfect example of a system problem: vague rules, unsatisfactory conduct, inequality, bias, and ambiguity drive actions and behaviors that the American public labels the Swamp rather than the "rule of the people." -Dr. Stewart

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Regaining Civility

Dr. Debra Stewart

Regaining civility in your world is simple because it only involves returning to the arts. Changing the world with music, art, writing, journalism, photography, dance, and so many more art forms has always led to lasting, positive reform.  Lashing out with unbridled emotions about topics that you are passionate about is a waste of time and is viewed as hostile, aggressive, and challenging. More importantly, hostile behavior only contains a fraction of what you genuinely want to express.

 

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Getting Your Point Across

Cross-culturally, getting an important point across without being seen as aggressive or a bully can be complicated. Often, the point of interest involves cherished personal beliefs and values and may seem indisputable from this perspective, which creates bias and a host of formal and informal fallacies. To get your point across without being seen as the aggressive communicator or a bully requires a substantial effort for the compassionate, effective communicator. For example, compassionate and effective communication involves gathering valid and reliable information on the subject, exploring alternatives, understanding the person receiving the communication's culture and sociopolitical and socioeconomic environment, and having a theory of mind that allows you to accept that others may think and feel differently about the subject. 

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