Copy/Pasting recent quoted conclusions of studies that may or may not be true is real power. Just look at everyone accepting the quote as fact in this post.
Here's a quote from the link: "Using different experimental paradigms and measures and confirming predictions based on motivated cognition theory, we show that people low in power are significantly more trusting than more powerful people and that this effect can be explained by the constructs of hope and perceived benevolence."
Let me point these out. 1. Experimental paradigms and measures. Experimental paradigms like these are in the epistemology category, "Theory of Knowledge", the study of knowledge and justified belief. ToK is an excuse to avoid real scientific and proven accurate methods to acquire information and confirm predictions, often in favor of a profitable result by questioning or completely disregarding facts and context. It is a complex way of disinformation and a complete waste of your time. You have seen TED talks based on them, and students today are taking classes based on ToK for extra credit. ToK is only good for convincing power point presentations. Professors of Theory of Knowledge are nothing more but professional liars.
Cognition theory. is just that. A theory which have yet to be proven, which would then make it fact. You know, truth.
"this effect can be explained by the constructs of hope and perceived benevolence." Not an hypothesis to be proven or disproved, but made a case for, from a favorable perspective. It includes words that sound smart, but doesn't mean anything. What is the "construct of hope"? What does that even mean? "Perceived benevolence". Acts that seem well intended and empathetic, but no intentions are proven, which can be the exact opposite, simply because they are impossible to prove so far. Some may give a homeless person money so they can eat, while some may do it in order to make them kill themselves by alcohol or drug overdose.
"Our findings make important contributions to the literatures on trust, power, and motivated cognition."
Inflated non-specific statement. Motivated cognition is basically an academic/technical term for various mental processes that lead to desired conclusions regardless of the veracity of those conclusions. (veracity meaning truth or accuracy). The irony is strong in this article.
These are speculative sciences, which is not a science at all. You will find examples of this approach in social sciences, opinion polls and endless quotes around the world, even peer-reviewed and supported by seemingly scientifically legitimate organisations, but they are not observed by intellectuals who would take them apart piece by piece in a short span of time. I expect this conversation to blow up in the near future simply because the media is overwhelmingly based on quoting these polls and findings to shape public opinion with polls, and they do not respond well to criticism. It is a clear threat to their livelihood. The advertisement industry might also be affected greatly. Not to mention the public perspective of the political world.
Language is a virus. It will evolve to the point where you can't recognize propaganda from the truth. That's when people start killing each other.