Extrinsic vs. intrinsic ambitions
Different people have different priorities and motivations, Johnson points out. For example, intrinsic motivations might be “‘I want to be very close to people. I want to feel like my life has meaning. I want to feel like I’m doing something good for the universe’,” she says. “Extrinsic ambitions might be things like ‘I want to make sure that I’m wealthier than other people. ‘I want to be viewed by others as having influence and power’.”
In answer to the question, “Are people who are more invested in power more likely to suffer from mental health problems?” Johnson says “Certainly that story holds for people with anxiety and depression. For narcissism, we’re not as sure which direction it plays out … We do know that this is a group where it seems very important to people to attain power … And with people with bipolar disorder, we know that if they really value the pursuit of fame and money, they are more likely to have worse symptoms over time. It’s not a good focus for them.”
As for treatment avenues, Johnson cites the work of British clinical psychologist Paul Gilbert, founder of compassion-focused therapy, which helps people be more accepting and kind to themselves.
“Sometimes, you’re not giving yourself enough compassion and enough room to pursue the things that are really intrinsically meaningful to you,” Johnson says.