The Psychology of the Swamp No.12: Why do Politicians become Bullies?

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

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The Psychology of the Swamp No. 11: 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 have always had lasting and positive reform.  Lashing out with unbridled emotions about topics that you are passionate about is a waste of time and viewed as hostile, aggressive, and challenging and only contains a fraction of what you genuinely want to express.

 

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The Psychology of the Swamp No. 10: 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 the alternatives, understanding the culture and sociopolitical and socioeconomic environment of the person receiving the communication, and having a theory of mind that allows you to accept that others may think and feel differently about a subject. 

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