The Illusion of Power: What "Omnipotent Control" Is and How It Turns Us Into Winners or Psychopaths
Each of us has experienced this intoxicating state at least once in our lives: when it seems that circumstances obey our will, and the world plays by our rules. In psychology, this is called "omnipotent control." It is not just a character trait or megalomania — it is a fundamental mechanism of our psyche that originates in the first days of our lives.
For some, this feeling becomes fuel for achieving goals, while for others, it becomes a dangerous obsession that destroys the lives of others. Let's explore how this feeling develops and where the line between healthy confidence and psychopathy lies.
The "Infant-Magician" Phase: I Am the World
Psychologists (particularly Jean Piaget and Sigmund Freud) agree that for a newborn, there is no division between their own "Self" and the external world. This is a state of primary egocentrism or primary narcissism. An infant does not understand the cause-and-effect relationships of the adult world, so they perceive themselves as the source of all events.
Example: Imagine an infant feels cold. They start to cry. The mother hears the crying, approaches, and covers them with a warm blanket. From the child's perspective, it's not "mom came and warmed me up," but rather "I felt discomfort, made a sound — and magically created warmth." The child sincerely believes they possess the magic of controlling reality.
"My Dad is Superman": Delegated Omnipotence
As the child grows, they face reality and realize that their "magic" sometimes fails (for instance, crying doesn't always instantly bring a piece of candy). According to Sandor Ferenczi's theory, primary grandiosity transforms into secondary — dependent omnipotence. The child transfers their "control" to those who care for them.
Example: Remember classic childhood arguments in the yard: "My dad will beat up your dad!" or the belief that mom can blow on a scraped knee and the pain will literally disappear. The child believes their parents are deities who control everything around them, which means that by being under their protection, the child is also safe.
To grow into a healthy and mature person, the child must slowly and safely become disillusioned with this illusion. They must understand an unpleasant fact: no one in the world possesses unlimited power. But the paradox is that the only person who can come to terms with this is the one who, in childhood, fully enjoyed the illusion of their own, and later their parents', omnipotence.
The Healthy Remnant: The Magic That Helps Us Live
Does the infantile feeling of omnipotence disappear in adults? No. A healthy remnant of this illusion is preserved in each of us. It is the very foundation of our self-esteem, sense of competence, and life resilience.
When we successfully complete a difficult project, we experience that same "peak feeling" of power over circumstances. And sometimes this illusion manifests itself almost in its pure form.
What does this look like in everyday life?
- Gambling and superstitions: You blow on the dice before rolling in "Monopoly" or wear a "lucky" shirt to an important interview, subconsciously believing that your actions control luck.
- The American Dream: The cult belief that "You can achieve absolutely anything if you want it badly enough and work hard." Common sense says there are illnesses, crises, and random events, but this grandiose illusion often works as a self-actualizing fiction — it gives people incredible energy to create innovations and businesses.
The Dark Side: Manipulators and Psychopaths
Problems begin when the need to feel omnipotent control becomes the main purpose of a person's existence. If a personality organizes its life exclusively around the search for power over others, while ethics, empathy, and rules fade into the background, psychoanalysts speak of a psychopathic (sociopathic) personality type.
Ben Bursten, in his study "The Manipulator," makes an important clarification: not all manipulators are criminals, and not all criminals are psychopaths. Many such people never break the criminal code. For them, control over others is a psychological defense, a way to avoid internal anxiety and boost their own self-esteem.
Real-life example: A colleague in the office who weaves complex intrigues, pits employees against each other, and steals other people's ideas. They do this not so much for a salary increase, but for the feeling itself: "I pull the strings, they are my puppets, I am the boss here." "Stepping over others" becomes the main source of pleasure for such a person.
Where do we meet people with an omnipotent control complex?
They are magnetically drawn to places where there is risk, adrenaline, and the opportunity to exert influence. They often achieve incredible success in certain fields:
- Big business and finance: Top managers who cold-bloodedly fire thousands of people for the sake of metrics (think of the "Wolf of Wall Street" archetype).
- Politics and intelligence agencies: Where one can control the fates of cities, countries, or secretly influence global processes.
- Cults and religious movements: Charismatic sect leaders who demand absolute obedience from their followers.
- Show business and advertising: Fields where the main task is to control the attention and thoughts of millions of people.
Summary: Omnipotent control is a double-edged sword. In small doses, it is the spark that makes us confident creators of our own lives. On a hypertrophied scale, it is a flame that burns the bridges of empathy and turns a person into a manipulator for whom other people are just figures on a chessboard.
The article on "omnipotent control" perfectly illustrates the importance of understanding our hidden motives. At MriyaRun, we believe that true power and healthy confidence begin with an honest dialogue with oneself, not through manipulating others. To channel the energy of control into achieving goals rather than destroying relationships, regular self-therapy is essential. Our psychological tools will help you explore your emotions, process anxiety, and find the balance between healthy ambition and empathy.
Choose your self-discovery tool: https://mriya.run/catalog