Like baboons our elected leaders are literally addicted to power

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Like baboons our elected leaders are literally addicted to power Political power has a similar effect on the brain to cocaine - and it's not surprising that, as the Leveson Inquiry shows, our political leaders are hooked on it, says Dr Ian Robertson.

By Dr Ian Robertson 11:12AM BST 26 Apr 2012





We should all be grateful that two of the three power-constraining elements of democracy - the legal system and a free press - have managed to at last reign in some of the power of the Murdoch empire. But it was a close call for both, given the threat to financial viability of the newspaper industry and to the integrity of the police system through the close links between the Murdoch empire and Scotland Yard.


Hey Marnia

Have you or Gary ever read "The Dopaminergic Mind in Human Evolution and History" by Fred H. Previc? Great book, he goes into detail about dopamine and it's effects on societies and their growth. The only problem I had with the book is that it seems to be written in a way condemning highly dopaminergic people in that they create many societal problems because of their high dopamine. Although, in a way he may have a point, considering how bad a lot of politicians and world leaders are at what they do, yet they still strive for power because of their addiction. The book reminded me a little of Unwin's "Sex and Culture." I don't know how much credence there is in either book"s theories but reading both books (most of Sex and Culture I should say, it's a huge monotonous book) definitely should help any of us addicts with low dopamine to consider how powerful it is to allow our dopamine to rise and level out. I would like to think that both books might be on to something though because, like I said, it would be nice to have as much evidence as possible as to the benefits of higher dopamine levels, not that this site and YBOP doesn't provide enough of course. :)

Nope, haven't read that

Sounds intriguing. I've always felt the key is "balanced dopamine."

In any case, solving the world's problems by poll-axing men with Internet porn is too high a price to pay for a few less rapes.

My thought is that it's time for us all to learn more about how sex affects the brain and steer intelligently - instead of settling for either extreme.

How're you doing?