#powerdynamics — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #powerdynamics, aggregated by home.social.
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On the Sartorial Decline of the Nigerian Political Class: Monday Okpebholo, Yekini Idiaye, and the Wardrobe of Impunity By Lawson Akhigbe
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State is a man who, on the evidence of a recent photograph shaking hands with new Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly Yekini Idiaye, appears to have mistaken the office of Chief Executive for a weekend errand run. A branded baseball cap. Clothing better suited to a beer parlour than a state formal meeting. Khaki trousers that suggest safari rather than sovereignty. This is not a man dressing down to meet the people. This is a man dressing as though the people are an inconvenience he is squeezing in between other appointments. -
Kemi Badenoch’s maiden speech in the Commons
I am also burdened by the weight of expectation. You see, Madam Deputy Speaker, Saffron Walden has not had a maiden speech since Rab Butler’s in 1929. He held three of the great offices of state, but I am most proud that, as a Conservative Minister, he introduced the Education Act 1944, which gave every British child a statutory right to free secondary education.https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/08/19/kemi-badenochs-maiden-speech-in-the-commons/
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The Invisible Invasion: Britain’s Immigration Panic and the Arithmetic It Cannot Face By Lawson Akhigbe
Black people account for roughly four percent of the population of England and Wales. More of them are in the EastEnders cast than are arriving on the asylum route in any given year. Yet Britain has contrived to make this the defining political question of the age. We should talk about that. -
The Art of the Unsolicited Ass-Kiss: Understanding Nigeria’s “Eye Service” Economy by Lawson Akhigbe
In the United States, corporate culture has a colorful vocabulary for the hyper-sycophant: the brown-noser, the bootlicker, the corporate shill. But in Nigeria, this behavior isn't just a personality trait of that one annoying guy in middle management. It is a highly sophisticated, deeply institutionalized standard operating procedure known colloquially as "Eye Service." -
#Money, the interesting thing about it is if you #exist in #poverty, you desperately need it for your day to day survival, then if your on the opposite end as in being a multi million or billionaire in reality money means nothing, because everything you own and do is leveraged off of debt that you one don't actually own and second can never actually satisfy, and the rules of the game are very different for those in poverty, and the rules are slightly different if your in the middle, but if your on top, the rules don't apply to you unless somehow your generation and hoarding of wealth imposes upon another top income holder, basically if your in poverty all the way to the bottom end of double digit millions, your beholden to the entire state if it where, and beyond that the entire state apparently is beholden to you and your ability to leverage debt, it is a rigged system of epic inequality and strongly embraces prejudice against the rest of us whom simply would appreciate the basics in life to be readily available without so much turmoil, and stress to our mental and physical wellbeing, money is an illusion of power and has left far to many of us going hungry, literally;
You can encourage my continued useless #poetry, creativity and expression of self, #commentary, random thoughts, #philosophy and ideas, and by doing so your helping to feed, house and clothe a #disabled man living in #poverty, $5-10-15 It All Helps, via #cashapp at $woctxphotog or via #paypal at paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=…
#Austerity #Awareness #BrokenSystem #Capitalism #Change #ChronicPoverty #CorporateGreed #CriticalThinking #DailyStruggle #DebtSlavery #DisabledVoices #DisabilityJustice #EconomicInequality #EconomicJustice #EconomicViolence #Economics #Education #ExistentialThought #Financial #FinancialTrauma #FinanciallyDistressed #FoodInsecurity #Hunger #Homelessness #HumanCost #IllusionOfWealth #Inequality #Justice #LateStageCapitalism #MarginalizedVoices #MentalHealthMatters #MutualAid #Neoliberalism #Oligarchy #PhilosophyOfMoney #Plutocracy #Politics #PovertyAwareness #PowerAndControl #PowerDynamics #RealTalk #Reform #RiggedSystem #SocialCommentary #SocialEconomicWarfare #SocialJustice #Society #Solidarity #SpeakTruth #StatusQuo #SupportDisabled #Survival #SystemicOppression #SystemicPoverty #TaxTheRich #TruthBomb #TruthToPower #WakeUpCall #WealthGap #WealthInequality #WorkingClass #WorkingPoor
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The Sky Becomes a Minefield: How Drone Swarms Are Ending the Age of Air Superiority by Gandalv
NN reports that the pilot of a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle, shot down over Iran in April, described a sight that immediately triggered debate inside the U.S. Intelligence Community: multiple Iranian drones in the air, apparently interconnected or coordinated, moving as one. One source described larger drones with smaller drones beneath them, “like legs.” Another described it as a “minefield of drones” in the sky. -
Edo State: A Historical Analysis of Its Colonial Origins, Ethnic Composition, and Linguistic Heritage by Lawson Akhigbe
To truly understand Edo State today, one must trace its lineage back to the colonial provinces that formed its core: Benin Province and Afemai Province. -
How King Leopold II Of Belgium Killed 10 Million Africans In The Congo – Harrowing Details
King Leopold II of Belgium laid claim to the Congo and declared it his territory while exerting physical threats to the indigenous people of the Congo (Kongo). He declared the people and the land to be his property, and he quickly turned the country into a moneymaking venture for himself and his throne. -
Ha... "sexual cognitions involving submission (both positive and negative) have a greater association with sexual arousal in men than in women, whereas positive sexual cognitions of dominance showed the inverse pattern."
(The statistics are kind of wanky on this one. But still, there are some interesting bits in there)
Link: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00332941261430290
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DATE: August 1, 2026 at 07:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Men experience more positive private thoughts of sexual submission than women, study finds
Mental images of dominance and submission influence physical arousal differently in men and women, upending traditional gender expectations. A recent study published in Psychological Reports explores how men and women experience both welcome and unwelcome thoughts about power dynamics during intimacy. The findings reveal that engaging in mental scenarios that challenge old social stereotypes is strongly associated with heightened arousal.
People often use the term sexual fantasy to describe enjoyable daydreams that spark desire. Psychologists prefer to use the broader concept of sexual cognitions. Sexual cognitions encompass any sexually themed thought, which can be accompanied by either positive or negative emotions. A person might welcome a specific idea and find it arousing, or they might find the exact same idea intrusive, distressing, and unpleasant.
Distinguishing between how a person feels about their thoughts is an important step in psychological research. An erotic image might thrill someone in the privacy of their bedroom but cause them intense anxiety during a stressful workday. Positive sexual cognitions generally boost sexual well-being and overall physiological function. Unwanted or negative sexual cognitions tend to be associated with sexual difficulties.
Many intense sexual thoughts involve themes of power, control, dominance, and submission. Traditional social scripts dictate that men assume a dominant, active role in sexual settings. Women, according to these outdated norms, are expected to be passive and submissive. Researchers have spent years examining whether the private mental lives of individuals actually reflect these rigid cultural expectations.
In recent years, social scientists have discussed a shifting cultural dynamic where women are gradually claiming greater sexual freedom. Still, stepping outside of historical norms carries social risks for both men and women. Men who express a desire for submission sometimes face ridicule or challenges to their perceived masculinity. Because of these lingering social pressures, people may only feel comfortable exploring certain power dynamics safely within their own minds.
Lead author Juan Carlos Sierra, a psychological researcher at the University of Granada in Spain, organized the new project with his colleagues Andrea Jiménez-Olmedo, Carlos Pérez-Amorós, and Gracia M. Sánchez-Pérez. The team set out to map the relationship between thoughts of dominance and submission and actual physical arousal. They specifically wanted to evaluate if modern men and women experience these thoughts differently during heterosexual encounters.
The research team recruited 1,400 cisgender, heterosexual adults living in Spain to complete an online survey. The group consisted of 700 men and 700 women, with ages ranging from 18 to 79. To ensure data quality, the psychologists implemented security measures to filter out automated bots and repetitive answers. Participants provided information regarding their educational background, relationship status, and sexual history.
The survey asked participants to rate how often they experienced specific thoughts about sexual dominance and submission. They were instructed to classify these thoughts as either acceptable and pleasurable or unacceptable and unpleasant. This strategy allowed the researchers to separate the raw content of the idea from the emotional reaction it provoked.
Participants also completed a specialized questionnaire designed to measure their sexual function. They answered questions about their general levels of sexual arousal during intimacy with a partner over the past year. The survey specifically asked men to rate how easily they achieved and maintained an erection. Women were asked to rate how easily they experienced vaginal lubrication.
The results revealed several patterns that contrast with traditional assumptions about gender desires. Men reported a higher frequency of enjoyable thoughts about taking a dominant role compared to women. Surprisingly, men also reported a higher frequency of enjoyable thoughts regarding sexual submission. This contradicts older academic models predicting that women universally favor passive submissive roles in their private minds.
When evaluating unpleasant mental experiences, women reported a higher frequency of unwanted thoughts regarding sexual submission. Unwanted thoughts about being dominant were relatively rare and occurred at similar rates for both sexes. The researchers noted that men generally report higher rates of sexual ideation across the board, which might partially explain their higher frequency of enjoyable submissive ideas.
The researchers also accounted for the age of the participants in their final analysis. Previous psychological evaluations show that the frequency of sexual ideation fluctuates across a person’s lifespan. General sexual functioning and physical arousal also tend to decline as people grow older. By adjusting their models for age, the researchers could isolate the specific association between a person’s thoughts and their physical arousal.
Enjoyable thoughts of sexual dominance were associated with higher general sexual arousal and better physical responses for the entire group. In contrast, unwanted thoughts of submission were associated with lower arousal overall. Unwanted thoughts about dominance similarly tracked with a reduction in physical responses, such as a lack of lubrication or trouble maintaining an erection.
The most striking associations emerged when comparing the sexes directly. Enjoyable thoughts of dominance were more strongly associated with higher physical arousal and vaginal lubrication in women than in men. Meanwhile, thoughts of submission, whether welcomed or unwanted, showed a stronger association with arousal levels in men than they did in women. Expanding on these associations, the research team proposed that private thoughts offer a safe environment to explore taboo subjects.
Traditional gender roles can restrict personal autonomy by forcing people into specific behavioral boxes. The researchers suggest that women might find a sense of empowerment in dominant thoughts, leading to increased arousal. Because social scripts often demand men be strong and aggressive, the privacy of submissive thoughts might provide men with a relaxing escape from those pressures. Breaking away from typical societal expectations might act as a mental catalyst for sexual pleasure.
Understanding these mental mechanics has practical applications in professional clinical settings. Sex therapists often discuss a patient’s private mental images as a tool to improve their sexual health. Acknowledging that individuals can find intense pleasure in thoughts that contradict their everyday gender roles can help normalize these experiences. Recognizing the difference between a welcomed scenario and an unwanted intrusive thought is a necessary step in sex therapy.
The study has several caveats that limit broad conclusions about human sexuality. The researchers used a cross-sectional design, which means they collected all the data at a single point in time. Because of this, the team cannot say that specific thoughts directly cause reliable changes in physical arousal. The self-reported nature of the survey also relied entirely on the subjective perceptions of the participants.
Comparing physical responses between sexes presents inherent biological challenges. The physiological mechanisms responsible for an erection differ from those responsible for vaginal lubrication, making direct comparisons difficult. The sample was also entirely composed of heterosexual, cisgender adults living in Spain. Future studies will need to include diverse sexual orientations and gender identities to understand how the broader population experiences power dynamics in their private thoughts.
The study, “The Association Between Sexual Cognitions of Dominance/Submission and Sexual Arousal Challenges Traditional Gender Roles,” was authored by Juan Carlos Sierra, Andrea Jiménez-Olmedo, Carlos Pérez-Amorós, and Gracia M. Sánchez-Pérez.
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #SexualCognition #DominanceSubmission #MaleArousal #FemaleArousal #SexTherapy #PrivateThoughts #GenderRoles #SexualWellBeing #PowerDynamics #SexualMinds
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The Rise And Reign Of The Godfather: Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Lawson Akhigbe
The Rise And Reign Of The Godfather — Bola Ahmed Tinubu -
The Silence of Friday: How J.M. Coetzee Flipped the Script on Robinson Crusoe
In 1986, South African Nobel Laureate J.M. Coetzee looked at Crusoe’s island and saw something entirely different: the blueprint for colonial trauma. -
In a democratic setting, the majority makes the government, but the minority benefits.
That’s the ultimate paradox and irony of governance: the masses drive the process with their votes, yet the tangible rewards and power inevitably concentrate in the hands of a fortunate few.#Democracy #Governance #Politics #SocialIrony #PowerDynamics
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At the same time, we are primates, and social mammals, and there are many species whose social order does always have a leader or a hierarchy, so it wouldn't surprise me if we have the same.
But even if that is true, it's not at all an argument to support hierarchy or monarchy! Rather, awareness that we carry that tendency in our DNA (if we do) can help us sit it alongside more adaptive patterns.
#DivisionOfPower #equality #FoodForThought #GenderRoles #interdependence #PowerDynamics #Psychology #SocialScience #Sociology
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@zeugmatisse Thanks for the link to this.
Something closely related which I've observed and which might explain this assumption is that it seems like us humans have a built-in bias towards what I call "bigman culture" - organising ourselves into a culture in which there is a leader.
I'm speculating about this cos of how many times I've been surprised by how readily a quite egalitarian group or a formally non-hierarchical group will nevertheless frequently end up with one person who tends to dominate the group direction or process.
I've noticed this also in myself - how readily I default to fitting in to that pattern.
Of course for us Westerners it's incredibly hard to say whether we comply with this pattern simply cos that's what we're socialised into.
And also I'm aware that strategically and practically in emergencies having one person in charge is really effective (assuming the're competent) - so it might be that any hardwiring towards a "leader" might just arise from that.
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#DivisionOfPower #equality #FoodForThought #GenderRoles #interdependence #PowerDynamics #Psychology #SocialScience #Sociology
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💥 Power Dynamics: Why Do We Insist That Someone Must Always Be "In Charge"?
This #Psychology Today article invites us to rethink #equality in ways that strengthen #relationships and communities... https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/comparatively-speaking/202606/why-do-we-assume-someone-must-be-in-charge?ref=refind•|••
🏷️ #DivisionOfPower #equality #FoodForThought #GenderRoles #interdependence #PowerDynamics #Psychology #SocialScience #Sociology
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OBJECTIFICATION AS POWER: A MYTH UNRAVELING?
New research questions if sexual objectification truly gives power, suggesting it might increase vulnerability instead. Understand the findings.
#Objectification, #PowerDynamics, #Sociology, #GenderStudies, #ResearchFindings
https://newsletter.tf/sexual-objectification-power-myth-questioned-research/
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New studies are questioning the old idea that sexual objectification gives power. The findings suggest it could actually make people more vulnerable.
#Objectification, #PowerDynamics, #Sociology, #GenderStudies, #ResearchFindings
https://newsletter.tf/sexual-objectification-power-myth-questioned-research/ -
I think we autistics might know all this in our bones. In our hearts. Somewhere, anyway… but usually on an instinctive level.
Even if we’re not aware of our reasons or motivations, and instead struggle with shame and self-doubt (just as we’re encouraged and socialized to do).
But… clarity is the enemy of oppression!
It replaces confusion with transparency. It throws light on the landscape 🔦
⬇️
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Throughout history, powerful men have utilized their status to exploit and abuse with impunity. This is a deep dive into the systems that protect abusers and why Epstein Island is just one chapter in a much longer story of patriarchal power.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmWlUzSz_t8
#EpsteinFiles #Patriarchy #Feminism #PowerDynamics #SystemicAbuse
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Trying to satisfy a hunger for affection with mere crumbs of attention is one of humanity's greatest delusions. Just as someone who hasn't eaten for days might mistake stale bread for a feast and devour it, a person starved for affection will mistake even the most mundane attention for great love or a deep connection. Because of this hunger, they almost worship people they would normally never tolerate.
Therefore, many toxic relationships are fuelled not by one party being bad, but by the other party being hungry. Because a hungry person cannot be selective; they will take and consume whatever is given to them.
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The result? Cycles of spectacle, domination, and collapse. Systems built by the few to control the many self-reinforce and magnify weaknesses. 10) #PowerDynamics #History
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"When years of engagement can be erased in 24 hours because someone points out an uncomfortable power dynamic, there was never really intellectual engagement - just conditional tolerance that evaporated when ideas became inconvenient."
#BurningTree, 2025
https://gist.github.com/burningtree/d4aa172470293bdf2939c993cf48bbd4
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Hot for teacher? Academic settings are not exempt from power abuse. Coercion violates the Principle of Trust and corrupts the integrity of mentorship. We move from Corrupted Code (Force) to Clean Code (Power).
Scenario: A student approaches a professor for help on a critical assignment. The professor replies:
❌ Corrupted Code (Force):
"I can help, but it will require a lot of late-night one-on-one time outside the office. Maybe we discuss it over dinner tonight?" (Leverages academic need to blur boundaries.)✅ Clean Code (Power):
"That's a critical topic. I can give you an extra 30 minutes during my office hours tomorrow, or connect you with the senior TA for immediate help." (Affirms professional boundary; prioritizes resource access.)The difference? The second message preserves the trust essential for education. What boundary can you clearly state today?
#SystemsLeadership #AcademicIntegrity #PowerDynamics #CleanCode
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Bad Boss? When power dynamics are involved, clear boundaries are critical. Coercion is not only personal; it is a Systemic Failure that violates the Principle of Professional Equity. We move from Corrupted Code (Force) to Clean Code (Power).
Scenario: A junior team member ends a secret relationship with their senior manager. The manager replies:
❌ Corrupted Code (Force):
"If you end this, it will make things awkward in the team, and I can't guarantee your next review will be positive. We should keep this quiet." (Coercive; uses professional power to threaten and manipulate.)✅ Clean Code (Power):
"I respect your decision completely. I will be transparent with HR about my boundary failure, and your job security is not threatened. We proceed professionally." (Restores integrity; affirms the junior's agency and safety.)The difference? The second message prioritizes integrity over personal gain. What boundary can you clearly state today?
#SystemsLeadership #WorkplaceIntegrity #PowerDynamics #CleanCode
