Our president is a psychopath, and our democracy is in peril
Many are aware that our president is narcissistic, but there is less awareness of psychopathy. Psychopaths are self-centered individuals who lack conscience. They care for nobody but themselves. One of the foremost experts on psychopathy is psychologist Robert Hare. He lists key symptoms of psychopathy as:
- Glib and superficial
- Impulsive
- Egocentric and grandiose
- Poor behavior controls
- Lack of remorse or guilt
- Need for excitement
- Lack of empathy
- Lack of responsibility
- Deceitful and manipulative
- Early behavior problems
- Shallow emotions
- Adult antisocial behavior
In the book “Snakes in Suits” Dr. Hare and co-author Dr. Paul Babiak report that classic psychopaths are experts in manipulation and bullying, and they list Stalin and Hitler as examples. They “surrounded themselves with obedient followers, and through them controlled much of their countries’ populations. Any sign of disobedience (often accentuated by a paranoid stance) led them to attack their direct supporters as well.”
I don’t think many would consider me histrionic, but I truly believe we are at a critical period in our national history, and our democracy is in great peril. The justice department, CIA and FBI are under attack, our Republican led congress is cowering in fear to our president, there is increasing control of mass media by the president, “fake news” is overwhelming facts, there are calls for locking up a former FBI director (James Comey) despite not being convicted of any crimes, there is a disdain for human rights, there is contempt for intellectuals and knowledge, flagrant lies are so prevalent that the media cannot keep up with them all, and morality (loving our neighbors as ourselves) is on the wane.
These are truly perilous times.
Craig Vander Maas, Psy.D., Licensed Psychologist
