The Fear of Power and the Power of Fear

One of the clear messages in the Netflix series House of Cards is the Fear of Power and the Power of Fear. The House of Cards series exemplifies what happens when one makes power the frame for exchange. The idea that coercion, compliance, power and fear are a pathway to motivation, learning and ownership is a nonsense. The ethics of fear and power erode trust, sabotage relationships and are the tactics of propaganda . The discourse of ‘force’ is not the language of learning (eg download Worksafe Inspectors Guide: [download id=”84183″]).

We see so often marketing in risk and safety with the message ‘watch out you will get caught’, a favourite for regulators and safety crusaders (education trumps punitive WHS approach ). We already know that a methodology of fear and power doesn’t work in the long term (‘Culture of fear’ not helping national road toll, says researcher ) and at best only creates short-term compliance but long term damage (http://acrs.org.au/files/papers/82%20Wundersitz_NPR.pdf ). What is clear from the research is that fear campaigns often have the opposite effect ( Fear-based information campaigns ).

A method is the outcome of a methodology (philosophy) and the philosophy of fear/power is a dehumanizing deficit method. Fear is not a motivator but a de-motivator. Fear ‘teaches’ nothing but its covert ‘hidden curriculum’ is the building of resentment, the by-product of revenge and amplification of anxiety and confusion. Fear and power are unethical tactics for effect. Fear and power are not able to create a learning environment, diminish understanding and nullify any hope of conversation and listening. Fear and power are the perfect bed partners for zero harm. Fear and power are the perfect servants for bullying and terror ( Review of the inquiry into allegations of bullying in WorkCover NSW , Workplace regulator accused of ‘bullying culture’ ).

One of the beautiful messages of Christmas is the story of the Christ-child born in a cave out the back of a pub. With no room in the hotel, the animal shed was the place for God to demonstrate love for human kind in the form of a baby without power. Here is a setting for humility, listening and mystery. The Christmas story tells us that the power of love beats the power of fear. The strategy out front-of-house with the boozers, the noise and fights is not the same as the strategy out back-of-house where wise astrologers and sheep workers came to seek the messenger of listening, love and, empathy with all human kind.

Meanwhile back in crusader territory, the lovers of power believe that people learn best if you ‘scare the s4it out of them’. This is how they get to zero, absolute statistics obtained by absolute force. The perfection of zero is so important that any measure justifies the saving of lives. Salvation by terror, more nonsense. We see this with the popularity of ‘fear courts’ and the propagation of regulation fear and legal mythology in the risk and safety sector (https://mysafetythoughts.com/2016/07/09/the-logic-of-safety-penalties-and-prosecutions/ ).

It is one of the purposes of the fifth book in the series on the Social Psychology of Risk; Risky Conversations, The Law, Social Psychology and Risk, to dispel the many myths of fear and power that dominate the risk and safety industry. Watch Greg and Rob discuss the issue of fear in video number 20 in the series: https://vimeo.com/166935963

At this Christmas time and, as we approach New Year resolutions, make one of those resolutions that you might conduct your work in risk and safety without the need for fear and power. Instead, make it a New Year’s resolution to engage in Humble Enquiry, conversation and listening as your go-to method for ‘helping’ (https://safetyrisk.net/safety-as-a-helping-profession/) others develop ownership and motivation in tackling risk.

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Dr Rob Long

Expert in Social Psychology, Principal & Trainer at Human Dymensions

Latest posts by Dr Rob Long (see all)

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PhD., MEd., MOH., BEd., BTh., Dip T., Dip Min., Cert IV TAA, MRMIA Rob is the founder of Human Dymensions and has extensive experience, qualifications and expertise across a range of sectors including government, education, corporate, industry and community sectors over 30 years. Rob has worked at all levels of the education and training sector including serving on various post graduate executive, post graduate supervision, post graduate course design and implementation programs.