The well-behaved among us are somewhat bewildered at times by what motivates those who are antisocial or violent or who otherwise choose not to follow society’s rules. Of course, we understand robbery and theft are motivated by covetousness, while murder can be driven by anger or greed. In this post, I will briefly touch upon another important cause that can motivate behavior that seriously violates social norms but that unfortunately is accorded insufficient attention. I am talking here about powerlessness.
Powerlessness is a psychological state characterized by feelings of helplessness, lack of control, and an inability to influence one’s circumstances. It often stems from social and economic disadvantages, such as poverty, discrimination, or chronic unemployment. These systemic barriers reinforce the belief that individuals are trapped in their circumstances, creating a cycle of frustration and diminished hope.
It is natural for humans to yearn for control over their lives and for the freedom to shape their destiny. While many are fortunate enough to have the power to do that – because of their station in life and/or their wealth – this is not the case for many individuals and groups in our society and in other parts of the world. The sense of being unheard or invisible in society can lead to behaviors that undermine social cohesion, such as vandalism, substance abuse, or bullying. Feeling unable to affect positive change in their lives can lead to frustration and resentment, which can drive people to seek alternative ways to regain a sense of control or express their anger. These often contribute to antisocial and criminal activities, such as theft, robbery, or gang involvement, as a misguided attempt to regain control. Individuals who feel marginalized may engage in disruptive, aggressive, or self-destructive actions as a form of protest or as a way to communicate their dissatisfaction with their circumstances. This sense of powerlessness can have profound effects on an individual’s mental health, self-esteem, and behavior, inducing chronic stress, anxiety, and depression. Criminal acts, violence, or defiance against authority can be expressions of frustration or attempts to assert dominance over a world people feel unable to influence in legal or constructive ways.
Let’s start our examination of the powerless with a group that, for obvious reasons, needs to have its power restricted – children. To varying degrees, children have only limited control over their lives, with their parents or other guardians exercising power over many aspects of their lives. Indeed, increased freedom is often used to reward good behavior by children. These restrictions on their power are, of course, necessary to some extent, as children do not yet have the skills and capabilities needed to function safely and effectively in a complex and frequently dangerous world. While essential for their well-being, many children have difficulties with their lack of power, exhibiting defiant or rebellious behavior and getting into trouble. When this is the case, mental health professionals, educators, and, in extreme circumstances, state actors (such as the police or child welfare agencies) must be brought in to protect the child and others who may be harmed by the child’s conduct. In some cases, however, the control exercised over children is excessive or even abusive, creating a pathological situation where children feel trapped or caged, or are even endangered.
I turn now to another group that struggles with powerlessness – black people. While many may choose to believe that black people have the same power to run their lives as anyone else, the reality is often quite different. The legacy and continued existence of systemic racism combine to create a socioeconomic milieu that robs black people of the degree of agency to direct their lives that most white people enjoy, leading to criminal and other antisocial behavior. (Please note that I am not suggesting that all or even most black people engage in antisocial behavior, just that there are reasons why the incidence of such behavior is higher than is the case for white people.) Many white people express disdain for antisocial behavior by black people, but without any sort of acknowledgment that there are powerful psychological forces at work in response to societal injustices that generate such conduct. In examining this problem, we need to ask ourselves how motivated we would be to abide by the rules of a system that we regard as unjust, rigged against us, and bent on subjugating us?
The third group I will mention are the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. As I have explained in my posts on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, to varying degrees, these Palestinians exist in a system that denies them control over significant aspects of their lives, including freedom of movement and employment. Without stating a view as to whether the restrictions imposed on them are necessary for Israel’s legitimate security needs, I note that Palestinians experience profound feelings of powerlessness, as they contend with invasions of their personal sovereignty and security, such as violence by settlers that goes ignored by Israeli authorities, searches by the army or police without justification, and destruction of their property by Israeli forces. As I emphasized in my posts on the subject, this sense of powerlessness fuels resentment of Israelis, the growth of Palestinian militancy, and attendant acts of terrorism.
In expressing the observations above, I would emphasize that I am not seeking to support or defend antisocial or violent attitudes or behavior that emerge from a sense of powerlessness. I only seek to explain the connection between them, so that we can appreciate the psychological dimensions of the phenomenon and address the problems created by it more effectively. And, of course, it should go without saying that those experiencing powerlessness should not seek to externalize it onto others by engaging in criminal or other serious antisocial behavior. Rather, to the extent possible, they should direct their anger and frustration at the sources of their powerlessness and at the pursuit of constructive means for building their power — a far more productive use of their energy and resentment than violating social norms and rules. At the same time, however, we must recognize that there is a place for civil disobedience and other robust forms of protest when alternative means for responding to injustice and oppression are unavailable.
A concomitant to the socially deforming effects of powerlessness mentioned above are the profound benefits that come with the empowerment of those who feel powerless. Liberation from the constraints that rob people of agency over their lives can generate immense psychological and social gains for formerly powerless individuals and groups, as their productive capabilities become unshackled and their self-esteem and connection to the larger society grow. Just as we suffer when we deprive others of power that is rightfully theirs, we profit when that power is granted or restored to them. Thus, helping people to gain or regain a sense of control over their circumstances can reduce feelings of helplessness and potentially decrease criminal and other antisocial behaviors emerging from a sense of powerlessness.
Addressing the psychological roots of powerlessness requires systemic interventions that empower individuals, such as improving access to education, mental health services, and economic opportunities. Unfortunately, the powerless are too often viewed not as sympathetic beneficiaries of public intervention, but rather as dangerous elements that threaten peace and order and that, accordingly, need to be subject to even more oppression. Ultimately, however, powerlessness is not just an individual experience but one shaped by societal and political structures, and tackling it requires both psychological support and social and political change. The first step in that endeavor is to recognize when unjust powerlessness exists at the root of social problems and to be motivated to eliminate it as a contributing factor. And just showing those experiencing powerless that we are aware of the injustice of their situation and that we genuinely wish to rectify their plight can go a long way to putting out the embers of anger and frustration that can erupt into a firestorm of antisocial behavior that makes things worse for everyone.
