2.296 / 5.000 The Thinking That Leads to the Power Over Model and Why It Lasts

Power Over is not just a power model but has become part of the system of thinking and social behavior. It is so pervasive that it operates almost automatically, beyond people's conscious awareness. The sustainable existence of Power Over is formed by three important factors.

1. Human Tendency Towards Power
Human nature tends to use power when given the opportunity. When an individual or group is empowered, they often use it to influence or control others. This stems from the psychology of domination, which has existed for a long time in the history of human development.

2. New Control Mechanisms Are Established to Minimize Risk
When Power Over is criticized, reforms to adjust this model often only change the surface without changing its nature. New forms of control are created to correct the system’s shortcomings, but they actually reinforce Power Over in another form. A clear example is social welfare programs. Although they are well-intentioned, they are often accompanied by bureaucratic processes and tight controls, which inadvertently perpetuate Power Over.

3. Reinforcement of Two Important Communities
There are two groups of communities that play an important role in the maintenance of Power Over.

- The community of operators: These are people who have experience operating the power system. Their thinking is shaped and reinforced by the Power Over model itself, causing them to continue to use and maintain it as a norm.

- The community of education and training organizations: The education system, whether intentionally or unintentionally, transmits and maintains the structures and approaches of Power Over. New generations adopt this thinking, causing the model to continue to be maintained and developed over time.

Conclusion
Power Over exists not only because of direct power, but also because of deeply ingrained social systems and mindsets. The combination of the instinct to use power, new control mechanisms, and the reinforcement of related communities has kept this pattern going throughout history. If we want to change, we need new approaches that go beyond superficial adjustments to fundamentally restructure the system.

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