How Power Can Make You Impulsive (And Kind Of Terrible)

And do things like grab the last cookie from the plate.

Parts of your brain's frontal lobe are home to your empathy networks.

Fig. 1 by University of California / Via youtube.com

If you damage those systems, which help you assess how other people are feeling, you can become impulsive — even rude! Scientists term it acquired sociopathy, meaning you essentially act in ways that disregard others, according to this study.

In a new video, UC Berkeley psychologist Dacher Keltner explains how their lab studies have found giving people power mimics that type of brain trauma.

Fig. 1 by University of California / Via youtube.com

Power makes you more likely to engage in risky behavior, like flirting inappropriately or gambling — or being a jerkface to your employees.

In other words, you lose touch with other people, he says. And that means being the one to nab that last cookie hanging out on a plate and noisily eat it because you don't really care about what others think.

That's not to say anyone who has the last cookie is an asshat: It's how you go for it.

This is not meant to be confused with Cookie Monster.

PBS / Via giphy.com

He just happens to really love baked goods.

Watch the full video here!

youtube.com