Power really DOES go to the head: Expert says that egos of Thatcher and Blair were reflected in their self-obsessed language



Hubris is commonly associated with a loss of contact with reality and an overestimation of one's own competence, accomplishments or capabilities

British researchers discovered that this personality change was reflected in both Blair's and Thatcher's use of language

It is as if power, almost literally "goes to their head", they say



Between the two of them, they have divided political opinion the world over.

But scientists say that British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and the late Lady Thatcher also had something else in common - the use of egotistical language during their respective periods in office.



Dubbed Hubris syndrome, it has been suggested that a number of Prime Ministers may have developed the personality disorder - known as Hubris syndrome - while in power.

British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and the late Lady Thatcher also had something else in common - the use of egotistical language during their respective periods in office - known as Hubris syndrome



Researchers at St George's, University of London have discovered that this personality change was reflected in both Blair's and Thatcher's use of language.

Hubris, say the researchers, is commonly associated with a loss of contact with reality and an overestimation of one's own competence, accomplishments or capabilities.



It is characterised by a pattern of exuberant self-confidence, recklessness and contempt for others, and is most particularly recognised in subjects holding positions of significant power.

Fourteen clinical symptoms of Hubris syndrome have been described. People who show at least three of these could be diagnosed with the disorder.

Researchers at St George's, University of London, searched for evidence of some of these clinical features in the language used by three British Prime Ministers – Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair and John Major – by examining transcribed samples of spoken language taken from Prime Minister's Questions.



David Cameron

They thought that frequent use of certain words or phrases, such as 'sure', 'certain' and 'confident', the first person pronouns 'I' or 'me', references to God or history, might show up during 'hubristic' periods.

They found that 'I' and 'me' and the word 'sure' were among the strongest positive correlations over time in Tony Blair's speech.



Blair's use of the word 'important' also increased with time. Words and phrases that became more frequent with time in the speeches of Lady Thatcher and Tony Blair also included the phrase 'we shall', while phrases that included the word 'duties' diminished.



The authors also found that language became more complex and less predictable during hubristic periods.

For example, Lady Thatcher's language becomes more complex at the end of her term of office, when her decisions and judgements were opening deep divisions within her own party. The same happened to Tony Blair's speech during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq.

These linguistic patterns were not reflected in the language of John Major. The relative frequency of the word 'we' compared to 'I' was in fact higher throughout the terms of office of both Thatcher and Blair than at any point of Major's premiership.

Additionally, the changes over time in words and phrases adopted by both Thatcher and Blair appeared to mirror the time course of hubristic behaviour.



Dr Peter Garrard, the lead researcher, from St George's, University of London, said: ' Hubris syndrome represents a radical change in a person's outlook, style and attitude after they acquire positions of power or great influence.

'They become obsessed with their self-image, excessively confident in their own judgement and dismissive of others, often leading to rash, ill thought-out decisions.



'In other words, the acquisition of power can bring about a change in personality: it is as if power, almost literally "goes to their head".

'This work shows us that language can reflect this highly characteristic personality change'