Why a President with an Acute Personality Disorder is a Bad Thing

To whom it may concern:
Here’s the dictionary (Apple Dictionary) definition of narcissism:

     Excessive or erotic interest in oneself and one's physical appearance.

     Psychology: Extreme selfishness, with a grandiose view of one's own
     talents and a craving for admiration, as characterizing a personality type.

     Psychoanalysis: Self-centeredness arising from failure to distinguish the
     self from external objects, either in very young babies or as a feature of
     mental disorder.

 

According to the American Psychiatric Association, narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) includes these symptoms:

    •    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

So, if by some odd chance seeing these very qualities in the most powerful man in the world—the man who, to a great extent, holds your future and that of your kids and grandkids in his hands—doesn’t concern you, consider this. Here are just a few figures of note known to suffer from NPD:

    •    Jim Jones
    •    Saddam Hussein
    •    Joan Crawford
    •    Ike Turner
    •    Lee Harvey Oswald
    •    Donald Trump
    •    Kayne West
    •    Eva Peron
    •    Simon Cowell
    •    Adolph Hitler
    •    Joseph Stalin
    •    Joseph Mengele
    •    Ted Bundy

 
 



    •    Heinrich Himmler
    •    Hermann Göromg
    •    Pol Pot
    •    And, by most accounts…yes, you guessed it…Vladimir Putin (Hm-m-m,
          birds of a feather?)

According to evolutionary psychologist Nigel Barber’s article, “Is Narcissism All Bad” in  Psychology Today (Oct. 9, 2014), the social media phenomenon—yes, including Twitter—of the past 15-20 years has served as rocket fuel to both the pervasiveness and seriousness of narcissistic personality disorder.
   
MentalHealth.com’s outline of the occupational-economic problems associated with NPD includes these:

• Causes significant impairment in academic, occupational and/or social functioning
• (Patients) work poorly with others; they are self-centered, can't tolerate criticism or defeat)

So-o-o, you trump-pets out there: any concerns yet about your guy’s qualifications and temperament for the job? Any concerns at all?