Political personality

Politicians seek power, validation and attention almost constantly - but the actual disorder of narcissism may show up only after suffering a defeat.

By MICHAEL J. SALAMON
In ancient mythology, Narcissus, a handsome young man rejected the companionship of both women and men to fall in love with his own reflection in a pond of water. The theme of the myth is the pervasive self-aggrandizement that he exhibited to the point of ignoring his own basic needs as well as the needs of others. Mental health specialists refer to a syndrome called a narcissistic personality disorder, which is characterized by a rigid all-encompassing pattern of grandiosity. Primary among the traits displayed is an over-inflated sense of self-importance, intellectual ability and uniqueness. Additional traits include the need for extreme admiration and entitlement. Personality disorders tend to occur in only about one percent of the population. While the disorder is rare in the general population, people who suffer from personality disorders, especially narcissism, have a tremendous impact on others, not simply themselves. What is most notable is that individuals with the disorder are completely unaware of the distress they cause others. How can you be concerned about causing distress if you do not consider the needs of others? It has been suggested that individuals with a narcissistic personality tend to gravitate to certain specific professions, in particular acting and politics. Clearly not all actors or politicians are narcissists, but the behavioral patterns of self-aggrandizement and entitlement found more in politicians may indicate that the pattern is anything but uncommon among those in this group. Politicians seek power, validation and attention almost constantly. They operate with an illusion of superiority and infallibility; they are self-enamored and concerned primarily with their own preservation. And, they rarely, if ever, admit to a mistake. Take as case in point former US president Jimmy Carter. In May of 2002, Jay Nordlinger, writing in the National Review said that he had never known anyone who "so nakedly loved praise." Quoting from a variety of sources, Nordlinger found Carter to be virulently anti-Israel and as having no qualms in accepting funding from any source that allowed him to receive attention, perhaps even narcissistic attention. In his own most recent book, Carter egregiously referred to Israel as an apartheid state with policies worse than those of South Africa's apartheid. Putting aside the details of his biased funding sources, one only needs to check those who were supportive of him at the time that the book was released and who remain supporters of his to this day to find an entire coterie of well-known self-aggrandizers. Many of these people are individuals who believe themselves to be completely infallible. IT IS election time in the US and time for a new government to form in Israel. Many of the political blogs in the US are referring to both Barack Obama and John McCain as having narcissistic tendencies or as actual narcissists. Perhaps we should make a distinction between someone who has a strong attitude of self-interest and someone who is a self-aggrandizer. The person who has a great deal of self-interest can accept someone else's view or a different position and admit error. The self-aggrandizer cannot. Using this as the yardstick, neither Obama nor McCain seem to be aggrandizers, so while they may have tendencies toward narcissism they do not have clear signs of a narcissistic personality, at least not at this point. There is a possibility, however, that the actual disorder of narcissism is not exhibited until after an individual who has been in public office has suffered a defeat. This seems to be the case with Jimmy Carter. It also seems to be the situation with Ehud Olmert. Olmert, in a recent interview, suggested that for Israel to achieve peace it would have to cede virtually all of the disputed lands. The interview and controversial suggestions that were made by him seem to follow the pattern that a narcissist might take. Having been found to be at least suspect in several improprieties and being virtually forced from his position in government, Olmert has begun making comments that are bound to anger all, regardless of their political affiliation. He did not admit to wrongdoing and appeared to have significantly changed his position on negotiating for peace. Those on the right are incensed because of his newly found liberalism, while those on the left are infuriated that he is stating this new position only now, at the point that it can have no impact except for his own aggrandizement. The truer question is not the issue of relevance but the degree of damage individuals can cause with statements that are relevant only to their own perceived self-importance and public enhancement. In the US, very few now take Jimmy Carter's statements as having much veracity. Most see him as someone struggling to preserve some relevance. His statements about Israel are rejected by most, and while his book may have sold briskly at the outset, he is now a fringe personality. But it has taken many years for this change to occur. Olmert, on the other hand, has burdened the next prime minister with statements that can alter the peacemaking process for decades starting immediately. How to deal with an over-inflated sense of self, particularly in an environment where there can be much damage? Unfortunately, there are no easy techniques. We can change personality only if the person suffering the personality disorder acknowledges the problem. This is especially unlikely in the case of a narcissist. After all, it takes someone special to fall in love with his or her own reflection, and many years, if not longer, to pry him away. The writer, a fellow of the American Psychological Association, is the founder and director of the Adult Developmental Center in Hewlett, New York. His recent books include, The Shidduch Crisis: Causes and Cures, published by Urim Publications, and Every Pot Has a Cover: A Proven Guide to Finding, Keeping and Enhancing the Ideal Relationship, published by Rowman & Littlefield.