For just over a year, “We the People” have been inundated with political campaign rhetoric. The temperature of candidate debates and stump speeches often reaches critical mass, exalting form over substance and fear and hatred in the place of reasoned
For just over a year, “We the People” have been inundated with political campaign rhetoric. The temperature of candidate debates and stump speeches often reaches critical mass, exalting form over substance and fear and hatred in the place of reasoned and dispassionate analysis. The media thrives on this gladiatorial exchange by promoting – continuous looping – the most vile of conduct under the guise of “breaking news.”
Hardly.
In the hopes of a better understanding the whys of the most extreme and disturbing of such candidate behavior, I consulted one of my usual sources – the Mayo Clinic. With just a few search terms I was able to locate what appears to be a most informative clinical description of same. It is called “narcissistic personality disorder.” Not having formal training in psychology, save for a few undergraduate survey courses, I will defer to (quote) the learned professionals at Mayo.
“Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of ultraconfidence lies a fragile self-esteem that’s vulnerable to the slightest criticism.”
A narcissistic personality disorder causes problems in many areas of life, such as relationships, work, school or financial affairs. You may be generally unhappy and disappointed when you’re not given the special favors or admiration you believe you deserve. Others may not enjoy being around you, and you may find your relationships unfulfilling.
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 …
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. Narcissistic personality disorder affects more males than females, and it often begins in the teens or early adulthood.”
I leave it to the good reader to determine if the shoe of “narcissistic personality disorder” fits your favorite candidate’s foot. If it does, you might want to recommend a good therapist rather than voting for that unfortunate and severely disturbed individual.
Edward H. Schulman is a resident of Kailua-Kona
