August 26–31, 2024
Will Trump’s narcissism be his undoing? #
We want strong, self-confident leaders.
Extreme self-confidence or narcissism is a trait we often tolerate in politicians. We are not surprised by their vanity.
But there are limits to our tolerance of narcissism.
Kamala Harris, Michelle Obama, and Barack Obama, along with other Democratic National Convention speakers, depicted Trump as a self-centered narcissist focused on lining his own pockets, with little interest in helping the American people.
Bill Clinton, in his convention speech, urged us to count the “I"s rather than the lies in Trump’s communications.
The psychological literature identifies differences between the narcissistic personality style and narcissistic personality disorder. Narcissism as a personality disorder can disqualify a candidate for office.
The Trump-Harris debate is scheduled for September 10. Trump’s self-proclaimed superiority of intellect and psychological strength will be called into question when he faces Harris, the accomplished prosecutor.
Recall Brian Tyler Cohen’s interview with Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin. Cohen asked, “Do you think Donald Trump has met his match . . . as a tough guy?”
Raskin responded, “I don’t think it. I know it because the emperor has got no clothes. And that’s always a crucial moment for the unraveling of the dictator, when it can be demonstrated that they’re just fundamentally ridiculous and insecure, and, you know, narcissistic, which is what Donald Trump is. So, he’s going to go down hard, and he’s going to have the well-deserved condemnation and ridicule of the country for what he is trying to do to us again.”
Will Trump’s narcissism be his undoing? We may be able to answer this question by counting both the “I"s and lies in Trump’s debate performance.
Trump’s penchant for fantasy and fabrication, and his denial and distortion of reality, indicates that his narcissism is more than merely style. It is a personality disorder.
Consider this table adapted from Sperry (2003, page 153):
| Narcissistic Personality Style | Narcissistic Personality Disorder |
|---|---|
| Although emotionally vulnerable to negative assessments and feelings of others, can handle these with style and grace | Reacts to criticism with feelings of rage, stress, or humiliation (even if not expressed) |
| Shrewd in dealing with others, utilizing the strengths and advantages of others to achieve goals | Interpersonally exploitive, taking advantage of others to achieve goals |
| Can energetically sell ideas and projects | Has grandiose sense of self-importance |
| An able competitor who loves getting to the top and staying there | Believes problems are unique and understood only by other special people |
| Can visualize self as the best or most accomplished in a field | Preoccupied by fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or love |
| Belief in self, abilities, and uniqueness, but does not demand special treatment or privilege | Has a sense of entitlement and unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment |
| Accepts accomplishments, praise, and admiration gracefully and with self-possession | Requires constant attention and admiration |
| Possesses a keen awareness of thoughts and feelings, and has some awareness of thoughts and feelings of others | Lack of empathy, inability to recognize and experience how others feel |
| Expect to be treated well by others | Preoccupied with feelings of envy |
Psychology and Mental Health References #
- Beck, Aaron T., Arthur Freeman, Denise D. Davis, and Associates. 2004. Cognitive Therapy of Personality Disorders (second edition). New York: The Guilford Press. [ISBN-10: 7-57230-856-7]
- Lee, Bandy X. et al. 2019. The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 37 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President (expanded, updated edition). New York: St. Martin’s Press. [ISBN-13: 978-1-250-21286-3]
- Millon, Theodore (with Roger D. Davis, and Contributing Associates). 1996. Disorders of Personality DSM-IV™ and Beyond (second edition). New York: Wiley. [ISBN-10: 0-471-01186-X]
- Millon, Theodore, Seth Grossman, Carrie Millon, Sarah Meagher, and Rowena Ramnath. 2004. Personality Disorders in Modern Life (second edition). New York: Wiley. [ISBN-10: 0-471-23734-5]
- Sperry, Len. 2003. Handbook of Diagnosis and Treatment of DSM-IV-TR Personality Disorders (second edition). New York: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. [ISBN-13: 978-0-415-93569-2]
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