The Psychopathology of Donald Trump
Does Donald Trump only say crazy things, or does he say crazy things because he actually is crazy? Does Donald Trump only say crazy things, or does he say crazy things because he actually is crazy? 1 2Narcissistic personality disorder is one of several types of personality disorders. Personality disorders are conditions in which people have traits that cause them to feel and behave in socially distressing ways, limiting their ability to function in relationships and other areas of their life, such as work or school. If you have narcissistic personality disorder, you may come across as conceited, boastful or pretentious. You often monopolize conversations. You may belittle or look down on people you perceive as inferior. You may feel a sense of entitlement—and when you don’t receive special treatment, you may become impatient or angry. You may insist on having ‘the best’ of everything—for instance, the best car, athletic club or medical care. At the same time, you have trouble handling anything that may be perceived as criticism. You may have secret feelings of insecurity, shame, vulnerability and humiliation. To feel better, you may react with rage or contempt and try to belittle the other person to make yourself appear superior. Or you may feel depressed and moody because you fall short of perfection. Many experts use the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association, to diagnose mental conditions. This manual is also used by insurance companies to reimburse for treatment. DSM-5 criteria for narcissistic personality disorder include these features: ● Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance. ● Expecting to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it. ● Exaggerating your achievements and talents. ● Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate. ● Believing that you are superior and can only be understood by or associate with equally special people. ● Requiring constant admiration. ● Having a sense of entitlement. ● Expecting special favors and unquestioning compliance with your expectations. ● Taking advantage of others to get what you want. ● Having an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others. ● Being envious of others and believing others envy you. ● Behaving in an arrogant or haughty manner. Although some features of narcissistic personality disorder may seem like having confidence, it’s not the same. Narcissistic personality disorder crosses the border of healthy confidence into thinking so highly of yourself that you put yourself on a pedestal and value yourself more than you value others.In a Vanity Fair article published in November, a group of six mental health professionals weighed in on the subject of Trump’s narcissism and gave the diagnosis an unequivocal thumbs-up. One interviewee, a clinical psychologist who lectures on manipulative behavior, went so far as to say of Trump: “He’s so classic that I’m archiving video clips of him to use in workshops because there’s no better example. … Otherwise, I would have had to hire actors and write vignettes. He’s like a dream come true.” But identifying Trump as an NPD sufferer is only the first step toward inventorying his personality. Not all versions of NPD are the same. To some commentators—lay and expert alike, including, most recently, Libertarian Party vice presidential candidate William Weld — Trump presents as a “malignant” narcissist, commonly described as someone who mixes a blend of narcissism, antisocial personality disorder, aggression, lack of empathy and sadism. Malignant narcissists take special pleasure in the humiliation of others, often in response to perceived threats and disparagements. They frequently respond with over-the-top vitriol of their own. The New York Times keeps a running tab on Trump’s verbal abuse in a feature titled “The 250 People, Places, and Things Donald Trump Has Insulted on Twitter: A Complete List.” Psychologically speaking, many of Trump’s barbs appear to be a form of “projection,” a primitive defense mechanism long ago identified by Sigmund Freud, whereby a person ascribes negative feelings about themselves to others. A good example—as a projection of Trump’s own racism—might be his bizarre allegation that federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who is presiding over the Trump University litigation in San Diego, is biased against him because of his Mexican heritage. Other experts see Trump as more of a “thin-skinned” narcissist—one who, because of severe insecurity, is easily insulted, easily hurt and lashes out at perceived enemies in order to receive reassurance and affirmation from supporters. Among those who espouse the thin-skinned assessment is Justin Frank, a Washington, D.C.-based psychiatrist and psychoanalyst and a professor at George Washington University. Frank is also the author of two popular profiles on our last two presidents—”Bush on the Couch” and “Obama on the Couch.” Frank, who has never treated Bush, Obama or Trump, explained how he goes about his trade, utilizing the techniques of “applied psychoanalysis,” in an hour-long interview in March with San Francisco radio host Peter Collins. “I look for patterns and do a lot of careful study,” Frank told Collins. “I look for what pops up over and over again to really understand people. Trump is a piece of work as a person.” Trump’s narcissism, Frank continued, also combines with elements of other traits, such as paranoia, an inability to process facts, and attention-deficit disorder. Referring to Trump’s loopy boast that he consults primarily with himself on foreign affairs, Frank remarked, “He’s not interested in hiring anybody smarter than himself because there isn’t anybody, and he’s paranoid enough that he wouldn’t want anybody smarter.” Regarding the GOP candidate’s thought processes and unwillingness to admit to making any mistakes, Frank said, “Trump takes a preconception [for example, that Mexican rapists are streaming across the border] and turns it into an absolute fact, whereas most people have experiences that can change their preconception into a new conception. You can’t argue with a narcissistic person [like him] on content.” In Frank’s view, Trump’s limited vocabulary—his overuse use of words like “amazing,” “huge” and “winner” to describe himself, and terms like “loser” and “disgusting” to smear his foes—is typical of youngsters struggling with ADD and lack of impulse control. Like such children, he added, Trump engages in the “childlike quality” of “magical thinking” when it comes to his policy proposals. The fact that his proposals lack detail or make no objective sense is of little consequence, because his programs will be “great,” as if wishing will make it so. Frank departs, however, from other observers on the question of whether Trump is a pathological liar. Because of his magical, childlike thinking, “Trump actually believes what he says at the moment,” Frank maintained. “He lives in digital, not analog time. He doesn’t think about what he said an hour ago.” Your support is crucial…
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