Article Roundup: Trump’s Psychology
One of the bonuses of Trump’s presidency is the boom in articles about narcissism. It’s sort of, um… nice? No. Convenient? Closer. …that we have a shared case to study.
These are the best articles I’ve found that discuss Trump’s pathologies, from the grand character assessments to the small but revealing details.
Donald Trump’s Ghostwriter Tells All
“The Art of the Deal” made America see Trump as a charmer with an unfailing knack for business. Tony Schwartz helped create that myth—and regrets it.
If you’re going to read any article, read this one. Tony Schwartz spent a year and a half shadowing Trump for what sounds like the entirety of Trump’s working day, and he knew Trump better than Trump knew himself.
The Mind of Donald Trump
Narcissism, disagreeableness, grandiosity—a psychologist investigates how Trump’s extraordinary personality might shape his possible presidency.
Trump and the Pathology of Narcissism
Diagnosing the president was off-limits to experts – until a textbook case entered the White House
Trump’s ‘Apprentice’-style hiring is upending Washington
The president goes on gut and instinct — and he keeps offering Chris Christie jobs.
How Trump’s campaign staffers tried to keep him off Twitter
The trick? Making sure his media diet included a healthy dose of praise.
One Trump associate said it’s important to show Trump deference and offer him praise and respect, as that will lead him to more often listen. And If Trump becomes obsessed with a grudge, aides need to try and change the subject, friends say. Leaving him alone for several hours can prove damaging, because he consumes too much television and gripes to people outside the White House.
Have You Ever Seen Donald Trump Laugh?
As Trump himself might say, there’s something going on.
Donald Trump’s Obsession with Applause
It’s no secret that President Trump is obsessed with his own popularity, as measured by polls, ratings and Time magazine covers. But last night, the president revealed that this obsession goes even deeper than his constant tweets about poll numbers would suggest.
Trump’s Childhood
Trump’s first ghostwriter noted that Trump has a weird, almost pathological, inability to remember much about his childhood, and no interest trying. That’s not unusual for narcissists. But the details people have turned up are revealing.
Confident. Incorrigible. Bully: Little Donny was a lot like candidate Donald Trump
This Is Where Donald Trump Played By The Rules And Learned To Beat The Game
Trump This!: The Life and Times of Donald Trump, An Unauthorized Biography, by Mark Shapiro
Add a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Thanks Issendai – this is fascinating stuff. Unfortunately, it’s almost too scary to read right now while he is still in power and in a position of authority over us. Once he is safely removed from office (one way or another), I will read everything I can about this specimen of human behavior. I can’t believe that, practically overnight, we have become one of “those” countries with a crazy demagogue leader without empathy or reason.
So what do you think of all the praise he’s suddenly getting for bombing Syria? Because this is exactly the kind of person I want bombing anywhere. What’s the psychology of all these politicians and media people who said, basically, Trump’s an unstable fascist, but I’m so glad he’s bombing a government that’s under the protection of another nuclear power?
My bias is pretty clear, I’m sure. Namely: stop #%#ing starting wars already! But it’s part of what I find interesting about narcissists: their effects on others. Somehow now this maniac is seen as “strong” and “presidential” because he’s shooting missiles. Though I will note — this seems to be entirely, or almost entirely, the pundit class. As far as I’ve seen, normal people, no matter their politics, are not buying this crap.
As the old saying goes, “Even a broken clock is right twice a day”.
Gotta remember, this is the same guy who had all the
pundits falling over themselves with excitement and praise because he read off a TelePrompTer for ~60 min. Then it was right back to the regularly scheduled insanity.
I just finished the book “The Nacissist Next Door.” It was published in 2014, and Donald Trump’s name still appears in the first sentence.
That laughter article gifted me one of the greatest terms of our modern era: Mirther. I would even go so far as to say I’ve never seen Trump genuinely SMILE. All of his smiles read as fake and forced to me.
What do we make of this week’s events? The man is coming unglued. He’s being subjected to constant narcissistic injury from the press, late night TV, protestors. His staff can’t shield him from this entirely.