Does Power Corrupt?

Here in New York City, we've dealt recently with political scandals on the city, state, and federal level. Christine Quinn, speaker of the city council, claimed ignorance of a "slush fund" created by members to direct taxpayer monies to pet projects. Eliot Spitzer, former governor, famously resigned after being caught using a high priced prostitution ring. And now Representative Vito Fosella has been found to have fathered a child out of wedlock. It makes me wonder if the adage about power corrupting is true. Do politicians have a higher rate of criminal and unethical behavior, or are their transgressions simply more visible? And which direction is the causality? Does achieving a position of power make one more likely to flout the law? Or are the people who are more likely to run for office also those that are more likely to take advantage of their positions? Some studies suggest that among animals, occupying a position at the top of hierarchy leads to elevated hormone levels and increased physical prowess. Birds and apes at the top of the dominance ladder become more aggressive and physically intimidating, while those at the bottom are more passive. Could our very genes doom us to having corrupt leaders?