Yes, and that response is unequivocal. Within the last two hours I saw the following: a UK professor who wrote a book on psychopathy, stating that the largest number of psychopaths in professions are CEO's. Next are lawyers, then surgeons, and after that, as I remember, members of the clergy. Shortly after that I watched the great Donald Trump moment (he had promised that today he would have a bombshell announcement that would change the election). His announcement, he would offer $5,000,000 to Obama to show his passport and his college record. What!
What would he offer to Romney to show his tax returns for the last ten years? Nothing, apparently. But if you watch Trump in his announcement, his face has psychopathy written all over it. Any intelligent person who ran into him in the dark would run like hell.
This stuff is really tricky. As I point out a lot in my writing on psychopathy (link attached to my name) there is little doubt that we have a number of psychopaths and others with reduced conscience in positions of power and prominence. But diagnosing any particular individual can be tricky.
ReplyDeleteWith Trump specifically, is he a psychopath or a narcissistic personality disorder or just a great promoter who behind the scenes is very different than his belligerent public persona? It's hard to know.
I hope you allow for hyperbole when you read political blogs! I certainly indulge in it most of the time. Is Trump a psychopath? I don't know but then I think many of the categories of mental illness defined by the medical establishment are nebulous. But he is a buffoon, and I would also suggest has some type of personality disorder, whatever it may be.
ReplyDeleteWhat worries me is not running into Donald Trump in the dark as it's rather unlikely to happen, but that so many Americans actually listen to this nutter. In his demonstration yesterday, offering $5,000,000 to Obama to release his passport and college applications, this problem, however we label it, was obvious. I thought David Letterman's response was the best of many thousands: he offered Trump $5,000,000 if he'd give the man sitting on his head his freedom. One wonders if his children ever try to stop Trump, or perhaps thought of having him committed. He seems to be moving more and more towards a locked door unit.
Donald Trump is a classic psychopath.
ReplyDeleteFast forward: August 2015. Trump is bound to become the most current textbook example of the perfect psychopath. He has every trait. We apparently are living in an era of ascendance of the psychopath, in my opinion, much like the 1920's-30's. They seem to rise and control every 3rd generation. Capitalism rewards and promotes psychopaths without quarter.
ReplyDeleteFollowup: Read :
ReplyDeletePsychopathy
The Mask of Sanity
by Hervey M. Cleckley
I doubt Trump is a psychopath. To prove the point, I looked at the Hare Psychopathy Checklist Revised, or Hare PCL-R. Trump score very low or a zero on many ot the traits. In my observation and research, he is NOT or does not have:
ReplyDeleteGlibness/superficial charm
Grandiose sense of self-worth 1
Need for stimulation/proneness to boredom
Pathological lying
Conning/manipulative
Lack of remorse or guilt
Shallow affect
Callous/lack of empathy
Parasitic lifestyle
Poor behavioral control
Promiscuous sexual behavior
Early behavior problems
Lack of realistic, long-term goals
Impulsivity
Irresponsibility
Failure to accept responsibility for own actions
Many short-term marital relationships -
Juvenile delinquency
Revocation of conditional release
Criminal versatility
Thanks for sending that. I was actually using hyperbole when I wrote this, but I went through all of the traits and he is doubtful on three but fists 17, so in actuality he is a psychopath. Thanks again.
DeleteI am not a professional worked as an activity worker and at 80 take care of ME! But yes, we use borderline for good reason. However, yes I believe he is.
DeleteI am not a professional worked as an activity worker and at 80 take care of ME! But yes, we use borderline for good reason. However, yes I believe he is.
DeleteAm I the only one who sees the parodic sarcasm from the poster? I found this very funny... thanks Gerry...
DeleteGerry are you talking about a different Donald Trump? Cause the one running for president fits enough criteria to be labelled a psychopath. He certainly shows elements of BPD & ASPD.
DeleteGerry are you talking about a different Donald Trump? Cause the one running for president fits enough criteria to be labelled a psychopath. He certainly shows elements of BPD & ASPD.
DeleteGlib 2
DeleteLying 2
Need for stimulation - probably why he's running for pres - 2
grandiose 2
conning 2 (trump uni?)
callous lakc empathy 2 -anything he's ever said after a terrorist incident
shallow affect 2 - I'd proably date ivanka if she wasn't my daughter (what a profession of fatherly love!)
poor behavioural control 1 - responds on twitter to any slight.
promiscuous sexual behavior - 2 freely admits
I don't know enough he socre the others, but in termso f interpersonal features he's a grade A white collar psychopath.
And who knows what he's got away with that we don't know about.
Ha. Awesome, Gerry.
DeleteAs a borderline patient (previously misdiagnosed with Bipolar 1 type disorder, I have come to the deduction that Trump is one of the worst cases of narcissist personality disorder (NPD) ever seen. As those afflicted with NPD have no real insight into their actions and the affect they have on others, the impending chaos would be astronomical. It's all about ME, ME, ME which certainly is not a person you would want running a country.
ReplyDeleteThe worst cases of narcissistic pd are usually psycopaths.
Delete