Explains some things that I didn't realize about NPD -- and The Donald -- and actually gives me a little optimism about the possible denouement.
THREAD: The Hoarse Whisperer @HoarseWisperer
I understand narcissistic personality disorder like the back of my hand. Trump is as familiar as an old movie, so let me share some intel.1/
6:35 PM - 9 Jul 2017
https://twitter.com/HoarseWisperer/status/884179117192749056
- People with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) seem erratic but they're actually ultra-predictable. They are simple machines. 2/
- There are only two driving impulses: 1) Avoid shame;and 2) Collect adoration and esteem. That's it. There is no other priority or concern 3/
- Trump will do anything humanly possible to try to avoid being publicly shamed/diminished in others' eyes.It's an impulse he can't control 4/
- Take Russia/Putin. If Trump were to acknowledge Russia interfered, he'd be admitting he was less worthy of the presidency. 5/
- Donald Trump would literally sell out his entire family and the country as well to avoid acknowledging that he didn't deserve the office 6/
- He is pathologically incapable of doing anything which admits to the world his worst internal fear: he's unworthy of being seen as special7/
- Now, he has no choice on how he has to play this. He HAS to actually make Putin look worthy of partnership. He has to make the shameful...8/
- ...thing, look unshameful somehow. He has to make shameful hacking and potential collusion somehow seem smart or purposeful or dignified. 9/
- It cannot be done. It makes no logical sense. It will fall apart and as it does, Trump's behavior and lying will get more outlandish. 10/
- But make no mistake, Donald Trump is clinically incapable of doing anything other than what he is doing: trying to avoid the shame of... 11/
- ...being discovered to be illegitimate and unworthy of public respect.
He has an uncontrollable compulsion to avoid that awful truth. 12/
- No matter how absurd each new action or lie sounds, he'll throw even his own family under the bus until there is no way out... 13/
- ...and then he will first explode on everyone and everything around him when he realizes there is no escape... 14/
- It will be the crazy tweetstorm to end all tweetstorms... and then he'll either a) implode in a miserable ball of self-loathing and flee 15/
- ...or concoct some attempt at a face-saving exit. Claiming he's too good for the job or that he's protesting the "deep state"... 16/
- It'll be transparent bullshit that none but the most loco Trumpers believe but he will take it to the grave swearing it's true. 17/
- The key thing to remember in watching Trump is that there are literally only two things going on in his mind at all times. 18/
- 1) Fight to the death to avoid being seen as shameful or underserving of public adoration... 19/
- 2/ Doing whatever it takes to make the people right in front of him think he's powerful, important and special. That's it. 20/
- Auntie-Social Media @Dotard_Tweets
I thought as much| question: b/c he's older & can't tolerate stress, jet-lag, is it likely when he crashes he'll commit act of violence?
- I would think not. Left to their own devices, when the walls truly close in, NPDs tend to fall inward, shut down and flee. 1/
- The wild card w/Trump is his susceptibility to manipulation. As long as the adults in the military keep Bannon, et al, in check, we'll be ok
- My biggest fear early on was that Bannon, et al, would successfully isolate him and keep him away from other sources of info. His media 1/
- ...obsession is our best friend. As long as he gets negative feedback from cable news, the worst actors won't be able to manipulate him well
