vitus979 wrote:
Sure, the Trump obsession is remarkable.
But then again, the level of whining and lack of perspective and self awareness on Trump's part is even more remarkable.
It's remarkable to witness in it's most evident form, at times shocking, but it's not perplexing if you understand it in context. It's been a while since I looked at the criteria, but I witnessed it in person with my sister's ex, and he and Trump were cut from the same cloth.
The term has been tossed around endlessly, and flippantly, but his behavior pattern is literally straight out of the DSM.
Quote:
(H)ere are
DSM’s requirements (link is external) (slightly condensed, and with minor bracketed amendments) for “earning” the unenviable diagnosis of
Narcissistic Personality Disorder:
1. Has a grandiose sense of self-importance.
2. Is preoccupied with
fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance,
beauty, or ideal
love.
3. Believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions).
4. Requires excessive admiration [regularly fishes for compliments, and is highly susceptible to flattery].
5. Has a sense of entitlement.
6. Is interpersonally exploitative.
7. Lacks
empathy: is unwilling [or, I would add,
unable] to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
8. Is often
envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.
9. Shows arrogant, haughty [rude and abusive] behaviors or attitudes.
So what’s left out here? Actually, as regards identifying descriptors, quite a bit. And I’ve no doubt that other therapists could add further to the six additional characteristics I’ll provide here—features that, although regrettably minimized or omitted from DSM, Iâ€ve routinely seen displayed by the many dysfunctional narcissists I’ve worked with. So, to enumerate them, such individuals:
1.
Are highly reactive to criticism. Or anything they
assume or
interpret as negatively evaluating their personality or performance. This is why if they’re asked a question that might oblige them to admit some vulnerability, deficiency, or culpability, they’re apt to falsify the evidence (i.e., lie—yet without really acknowledging such prevarication to themselves), hastily change the subject, or respond as though they’d been asked something entirely different. Earlier for
Psychology Today I wrote a post highlighting this supercharged sensitivity called
“The Narcissist’s Dilemma: They Can Dish It Out, But . . . ”. And this aspect of their disturbance underscores that their ego—oversized, or rather artificially “inflated”—can hardly be viewed as strong or
resilient. On the contrary, it’s very easily punctured. (And note here another related piece of mine,
“Our Egos: Do They Need Strengthening—or Shrinking?”). What these characteristics suggest is that, at bottom and despite all their egotistic grandiosity, they...
2. ...
Have low self-esteem. This facet of their psyche is complicated, because superficially their self-regard would appear to be higher and more assured than just about anyone else’s. Additionally, given their customary "drivenness," it’s not uncommon for them to rise to positions of power and influence, as well as amass a fortune (and see here my post
“Narcissism: Why It’s So Rampant in Politics”). But if we examine what’s beneath the surface of such elevated social, political, or economic stature—or their accomplishments generally—what typically can be inferred is a degree of insecurity vastly beyond anything they might be willing to avow.
That is, in various ways they’re constantly driven to
prove themselves, both to others and to their
not-so-confident “inner child” self. This is the self-doubting, recessive part of their being that, though well hidden from sight, is nonetheless afflicted with feelings and fears of inferiority. Inasmuch as their elaborate defense system effectively wards off their having to face what their bravado masks, they’re highly skilled at exhibiting, or “posturing,” exceptionally high self-esteem. But their deeper insecurities are yet discernible in their so often fishing for compliments and their penchant for bragging and boasting about their (frequently exaggerated) achievements. That is, they’re experts at complimenting
themselves! And when—despite all their self-aggrandizement— others are critical of them, they...
3. ...
Can be inordinately self-righteous and defensive. Needing so much to protect their overblown but fragile ego, their ever-vigilant defense system can be extraordinarily easy to set off. I’ve already mentioned how reactive they typically are to criticism, but in fact
anything said or done that they perceive as questioning their competence can activate their robust self-protective mechanisms. Which is why so many
non-narcissists I’ve worked with have shared how difficult it is to get through to them in situations of conflict. For in challenging circumstances it’s almost as though their very survival depends on being right or justified, whereas flat out (or humbly) admitting a mistake—or, for that matter, uttering the words “I’m sorry” for some transgression—seem difficult to impossible for them.
This is in large part why his responses and behavior in given situations is entirely predictable. He's hardwired for this behavior, and effectively incapable of change. It's possible we've had previous Presidents meet this criteria, though I think he lacks the impulse control and wisdom to keep it even remotely concealed.
The devil made me do it the first time, second time I done it on my own - W
