I'd say it's not megalomania, but conformity and the desire to not screw up. People in positions of authority, in control of others, exercise that authority within existing bureaucracies, with their well-established rules and customs. A President, for example, is told by various agencies of federal government what the score is and what they expect of him and he complies or he doesn't. Same with every position within every bureaucracy, governmental or private.
The exercise of bureaucratic power requires conforming--doing what is either expected of you or what you think (rightly or wrongly) about what is expected of you when in that position. This is what motivates otherwise good people to do evil--because you will get some sort of positive reward when you do it, having fulfilled the mission/task, advanced the interest of whatever bureaucratic authority you serve. The more removed from the results of bureaucratic action you are, the less your conscience is wounded by the results of that action. You are compartmentalized. Much like a high-altitude bomber pilot. You know you're dropping bombs but you can't see people being blown to bits.
The leaders or creators of institutional bureaucracies, those that begin on top or work their way there, are very likely those sociopaths that get off on flexing.
"What else could it possibly be?"
I'd say it's not megalomania, but conformity and the desire to not screw up. People in positions of authority, in control of others, exercise that authority within existing bureaucracies, with their well-established rules and customs. A President, for example, is told by various agencies of federal government what the score is and what they expect of him and he complies or he doesn't. Same with every position within every bureaucracy, governmental or private.
The exercise of bureaucratic power requires conforming--doing what is either expected of you or what you think (rightly or wrongly) about what is expected of you when in that position. This is what motivates otherwise good people to do evil--because you will get some sort of positive reward when you do it, having fulfilled the mission/task, advanced the interest of whatever bureaucratic authority you serve. The more removed from the results of bureaucratic action you are, the less your conscience is wounded by the results of that action. You are compartmentalized. Much like a high-altitude bomber pilot. You know you're dropping bombs but you can't see people being blown to bits.
The leaders or creators of institutional bureaucracies, those that begin on top or work their way there, are very likely those sociopaths that get off on flexing.