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DANGERS AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE ABUSE OF POWER
The abuse of different types of power can lead to different consequences. The abuse of personal power can lead to the betrayal of friends (in a relationship) or to innocent people getting hurt. An example of this is divorce in a relationship. As well as the discord and tension between the husband and wife often the children are forced to chose between the mother and father and it is also common for children to feel guilt over the breakup of the marriage. In this situation there is pain and suffering felt by all parties involved.
Political power can be easily abused. Often one person, for example a Prime Minister, President, King or Queen, can have an overwhelming amount of power and in some cases, total power. This is shown through the quote by British historian Lord Acton "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely". The consequences of abusing political power can be devastating. An extreme example could be that the government becomes all powerful and could lead the population into a world similar to that created in Nineteen Eighty-Four
The power of trust and emotions shares many common traits with personal power. Othello is a classic example of this because Iago was trusted by the people he betrayed and he used this along with the personal power he possessed. As a consequence innocent people were hurt in the ruthless quest for more power and revenge. Othello's love for Desdemona was very strong and this emotional power drove Othello to kill Desdemona. This act of passion was caused by the abuse of Desdemona's trust. He This shows the severe consequences of the abuse of trust and emotional power.
Organizational and institutional power is also very easily abused. The group of people at the head of the institution have the power to do what they like with the organization as they do not have to answer to anyone. For example, in The Shawshank Redemption, Warden Norton and Captain Hadley have the power over all of the happenings within the prison, as they have the prison walls dividing their illegal practices from the rest of the world. However, once this abuse of power was revealed, Norton realized that the consequences of his actions were huge and that suicide was the easier option. Shown through this are the brutal consequences of the abuse of organizational and institutional power.