An Inverse Relationship
From the beginning of human communities,
even the less than sharp among us
have understood that the ‘common bond’
of roots and neighborhood fade
as wealth and power are gained.
Now, experiments in psychology
have formulated a mathematical maxim:
Empathy is inversely proportional
to individual wealth and power.
In experiments where four
roughly equal persons engage
in some mundane task,
where one is appointed leader,
a tray of five cookies is given
the group as a working treat.
In the vast majority of cases,
the appointed ‘leader’ …
takes the last cookie,
confirming that …
empathy and power are,
indeed, inversely proportional.
–LE 4/22/26

2 responses to “An Inverse Relationship”
Interesting, but…
Many times I have witnessed people in positions of power give that last proverbial cookie to the one who needed it most. Not all powerful, wealthy people are greedy, just as not all of those of lesser means are generous, IMHO.
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No, you are absolutely right. This is just a general rule, a mathematical maxim that has been experimentally proven; nothing more. But I must say, the exeptions generally prove the rule…; -)
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