Can someone explain Donald Trump's EXTREME level of narcissism?

[Jacquette]

I get narcissism, I do. We are all narcissistic and devoted to self. To a degree. What I'm not understanding is how does such extreme narcissism co-exist with...reality? And how does one function?

At a certain point even if you think you're the 2nd coming of Caesar, Einstein and Henry VIII all rolled into one, reality...LIFE.. quickly shows you: Nah, son. When they fail what do they tell themselves? When they are humiliated and embarrassed by their own actions..DEMONSTRABLY your own actions..how do you look at that and go--not my fault.

Ex: when DT shoved the Montenegro Amb. to get in front for the photo op & then stood there like the cock o the walk with that insufferably smug thing he does with his mouth--Does he not look at the footage of that later and SEE what everybody else sees?

I can't process it or understand it. I used to think...he's joking or bullshitting; he CANNOT really be this way. I don't have a frame of reference for it.

[Siwsan]

1. I suspect he might have serious 'Daddy' issues and is masking a deep insecurity

During the campaign, he seemed to spew what ever he thought would make him seem tough, get him applause or laughs. The more approval he received, the more outrageous he became. Nothing he said had any roots in reality.

He's like that person you get into a relationship with because they treat you like gold and promise you the world. But as soon as the paperwork confirming the wedding is signed, the monster appears.

[MiddleClass]

8. I really feel your pain, try to divorce;)

I think it's mommy issues,

Daddy was a workaholic, always out on the job site,

my assumption was mommy spoiled him rotten, but paid no attention to him, thus his short attention span.

He's on the search a mission for something that cannot be found in the quantity he needs, adulation, I think it's called

[Siwsan]

11. I have no pain of that ilk. I've done my utmost to avoid it, at all costs.

trump* seems always be trying to make people think he is so rich, powerful and popular. That's not the kind of thing that sounds mommy issue-ish. It sounds more like he's trying to 'out-do' his Dad. Although I'm sure his mother had a strong hand in warping his personality. The little I've read about her make me think she was a real piece of work. And not in a good way.

[MiddleClass]

15. Sorry about that, I couldn't resist the funny

Exactly, he thrives to be known as the richest, most powerful, powerful in the room,

if he feels he has accomplished that, it goes to the building, and then as we see the presidency.

Now he needs to be the best, most beloved president ever.

Now that that's not happening, I suspect meltdown, resignation, "it's their fault. I'm not recognized as the best"

said really, but we can do massive damage to a lot of people

[Siwsan]

17. He is a disaster in the making. Visualize if the Hindenburg had hit the Titanic

Then double the damage.

[MiddleClass]

20. Interesting analogy

I'm just fearful of collateral damage, namely people.

Political party, they deserve it, but people even if they deserve it. The damage might be permanent

[Siwsan]

21. If things don't turn around in the 2018 mid terms, we might hit the point of no return

Every plan they present stinks of a cull. Their destruction of the social safety nets will turn this country into a Third World Nation.

[Turbineguy]

2. I see this term "narcissism" thrown around a lot.

I'm reminded of a cartoon showing a guy on a couch and his Psychiatrist is telling him, "My Receptionist has diagnosed your condition. She thinks you're just an asshole!"

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Malignant narcissism.

This article explains it pretty well: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/neurosagacity/201702/malignant-narcissism-collision-two-personality-disorders (scroll down a bit)

"Malignant narcissism is a blend of two disorders that pose problems interpersonally for their victims - narcissistic and antisocial personality disorders. It is not uncommon for others to feel anxious, intimidated by, and fearful of people with this condition. The combination of poor empathy, coupled with aggression, hypersensitivity, and suspiciousness can bring pain to others.

Those who interact with malignant narcissists often consider them jealous, petty, thin-skinned, punitive, hateful, cunning, and angry. Given their shallowness, they are not regulated emotionally and have beliefs that swing from one extreme to the next.

Their decisions can hurt others because they rank relationships and people based on superficial standards and categories. They want to land on top, even when pretending to be altruistic or engaging in an activity that should not be 'all about them.' They often view the world through a primitive binary lens (e.g., winner/loser; smart/dumb; rich/poor; pretty/ ugly; black/white) - all the while sustaining the belief they are superior. This is likely associated with problems processing emotional information, which reflects faulty neurobiology."

How he got to be that way is not clear, however.

[Jacquette]

7. Well this explains it

".......They believe they are better than other people and usually the variables that are self-enhanced are related to "power and status" (agency). Even if evidence to the contrary is presented, such as the results of an IQ test. Often that reality will be challenged rather than accepted. They might become extremely defensive and verbally attack or degrade the examiner who gave the test or the test itself (e.g., "What a stupid test!&quot Indisputable evidence of their inaccurate, overly inflated self assessment does not change the self-view of someone high in narcissism......"

This part of the article you posted clarified things for me. This is Trump to a T. He just... denies reality; even when it's staring him in the face.

That's..crazy.

[thegoose]

4. The way he was raised

Probably by nannies who constantly told him what a handsome, strong, smart little man he was. Hence the fact that he has the emotional maturity of a seven-year-old and thinks he's the hottest thing on two legs. He's been in a bubble his entire life.

Even in the '70s when he was NOT doing coke at Studio 54, he was still repulsive. There was lots of prostitute paying when not out-and-out sexual assault.

Sadly, the Deplorables in this country have given this orange meat puppet conman the ultimate self-esteem builder. SAD!

[Hamlette]

12. I don't buy the way he was raised excuse, many people had upbringings like that

and didn't turn into assholes. His parents sent him to boarding school because he was an asshole. He was born that way. In part at least.

[MiddleClass]

19. I think you're right

If it's the nannies, that would explain "I'm great, I am the best at everything."

And the mother was a constant desire for her adulation, which was not forthcoming.

Causing a insatiable desire.

[janterry]

5. Narcissists, imo

are very wounded underneath. So wounded, that when you scratch the surface - you can't find much there. Trump knows that and that's why he's made a career of building up his public persona.

There's no there, there. We'd call that, in psychobabble - 'empty.' He's an empty man.

I think that Trumps personality dx is also exacerbated by his wealth. If you and I were narcissistic, we'd be checked by the reality of the world. Doors might not open for us. People would laugh or ignore our inflated ego. Over time, we'd fail because we'd be alone with ourselves. Empty people fear being alone. It's the one thing that they cannot stand.

Trump is 'saved' from that by his money. It's made him even more toxic

[unblock]

6. People accept only feedback that fits into their worldview

Donnie would see that footage and just see himself, front and center where he belongs. If he sees the guy he shoved out of the way at all, he sees him as the *sshole who didn't get out of his way.

[Jacquette]

10. For what you say to be true

Last edited Sun May 28, 2017, 04:15 AM - Edit history (1)

DT must think he's the only REAL person in the world. Everyone else is a prop, a mirror reflecting endless images of me me me. That's why they say he can never be alone. No reflection just his thoughts.

My God this makes me kinda sorta feel for his kids. Especially the oldest 3. His sons seem half formed, as if they've mastered speech and keeping themselves clean that's it. And Ivanka carving herself up to look like HIS idea of the Perfect Woman; blonde, oversized breasts, poised, deferential and acquiesent.

They never had a chance.

[leftstreet]

22. He probably doesn't experience empathy

Narcissists don't

And if you can't experience another person's emotions or worldview, you probably WOULD feel like the only person in the world

[mercuryblues]

9. No he doesn't see it that way

He has been getting away with his shit for 70 years. He has come to believe that everything he does is ok. When he was caught laundering money through his casinos 106 tomes, all he did was pay fines. No arrest, no jail. Even his scam university, a fine. he made over 40 million, paid a 25 million, tax deductible fine. All this self feeds into his opinion of himself, he can do anything he wants, he deserves it.

So when he acts like a self righteous shit head, he sees himself claiming his rightful place. I so hope he gets prison time.

[Hamlette]

14. agree, and remember, he's a man who thinks only suckers pay taxes.

[womanofthehills]

13. I know we are talking about narcissism but obviously there is some serious psychopathy here

He told Melania (Howard Stone interview) - you can have a baby but don't expect me do things with the kid - like play baseball with him or take him places. His first wife, Ivana, said she basically raised the kids alone and sent them to their father when they were adults.

Probably the way he was raised - his father had no interest in him till he was an adult. Having to constantly be praised probably stems from his parents disinterest in him as a child. Low self esteem = arrogance.

My best friend is dealing with a narcissistic mother. OMG! the world revolves around them. me me me me........

[Jacquette]

32. Your friend with the narcissistic mother...may I ask

did your friend stay in the mothers life after he/she reached adulthood? Because despite having an uninterested, megalomaniac father? They are loyal af. ALL of his 1st 3 work for or with him, none of them even attempted to escape or at least distance themselves and it's been documented that he treated his oldest boys like absolute crap.

I know people who gave their kids everything, practically carried them around on a silk pillow their whole lives and they barely give their parents the time of day.

[furtheradu]

16. My 2 thoughts...

#1) his family belief system followed norm vincentpeal, "power of positive thinking".. or so I read, during the campaign.
#2) he's a freakin, creepy, weirdo, jerk A**hole.

See? It ain't complicated!

[Jacquette]

31. I got about a third of the way through that biography

written by a ghost writer. He says that as a small child, DTs father used to tell him like a mantra: you're the strongest, you're a killer. You're a beast. You're a king.

That would tend to fk one up...

[easttexaslefty]

18. People bend to their will.

It's easier.
My mom had borderline personality disorder. The chief feature is narcissism. My dad took me for a walk one day when I was 6. He told me to always just agree with my mom no matter what she said. If said the sky was pink even it was clearly blue to agree it was pink. That's the way everyone handled her until her death at 72.

[malaise]

23. He shoved the Montenegro PM not Amb.

He really thinks he's the most important person on the planet but he's bat shit crazy on steroids

[L. Coyote]

24. Easy, he's a huge asshole.

[democratisphere]

25. Hyper delusional.

[no_hypocrisy]

26. My father was about the same level as Trump.

We were invited for a boat trip down the Hudson to celebrate the 50th anniversary of a couple.

I was fully engaged in a conversation with another guest (an elderly woman) when my father cut in. I don't mean he *joined* us. I mean he stepped in between us, cutting her off, and started to talk to be about nothing in particular. I tried to incorporate this woman into our conversation but my father kept ignoring her and she ended up wandering off. My father was about Trump's age when this happened.

[Skidmore]

27. He has a personality disorder. nt

[mnmoderatedem]

28. at age 70

this extreme narcissism is likely irreversible. He's been this way far far too long and it's too ingrained. His mental health issue should have been addressed long ago but he's always been surrounded by too many enablers.

[RKP5637]

29. Plus, there are fools that try to normalize his behavior, that he just has a different style.

The deplorables have fed his narcissism so far over the top, and the GOP fools in congress sustain it. I agree, it's irreversible. Plus, IMO, he has some other serious issues going on mentally and physically.

[luvMIdog]

30. here's the picture :D

[url=https://servimg.com/view/19465124/494][img][/img][/url]

[DrDan]

33. extreme insecurity? Nobody else brags on him, so he has to?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

34. Who brags on him? Well, there's Omarosa, and KellyAnne. nt

[DrDan]

35. well, that's true now . . . . but early on, I doubt he had a KA pushing his "beautiful" exploits