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damnedifIknow

(3,183 posts)
Fri Sep 25, 2015, 09:03 PM Sep 2015

A Psychologist's Open Letter to U.S. Voters

Dear Fellow Voters:

I've been watching all the presidential candidates with great interest—and deep concern. Concern for us. Concern for the fate of our country. Concern for our world.

As an expert on narcissism, I'm not especially worried that narcissists might make it to the White House. According to research , they've always been there. And that shouldn't scare us anyway, because just to be clear: being a narcissist is not a diagnosis . It never has been. Narcissists are people higher in narcissistic traits than the average person, and while they may or may not be disordered, they all share one thing in common: They feel special . Some feel special enough to lead a nation, in fact.

So what we should be far more concerned about is not whether or not politicians are narcissists—most are —but how healthy they are. And that's where you come in. You have the power to shape the future of this country.

Politicians are groomed by us—by our applause, by our polls, by our votes. Whatever you seem to love or hate, they'll embrace or reject. So be careful what you applaud or attack. It matters what they—and all the little future leaders watching them—think you want in a leader.

That's why this isn't another rant about Donald Trump being a narcissist because:

a) Did you really need an expert to tell you that?

and b) We don't need another article or book about obvious narcissists, because apparently we're pretty good at recognizing (link is external) them already."

More: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/romance-redux/201509/psychologists-open-letter-us-voters

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A Psychologist's Open Letter to U.S. Voters (Original Post) damnedifIknow Sep 2015 OP
I bet we can figure out which candidate best fits the mold of the unhealthy narcissist! Dustlawyer Sep 2015 #1
I think this is his way of saying do not even think about electing Trump damnedifIknow Sep 2015 #2

Dustlawyer

(10,494 posts)
1. I bet we can figure out which candidate best fits the mold of the unhealthy narcissist!
Fri Sep 25, 2015, 11:46 PM
Sep 2015

Great article!

Now I would like to see him tackle my theory that Fox News and the other networks to a lessor degree employ psychological manipulation to try and keep their viewers angry and afraid. Also, how being angry and afraid makes them easier to manipulate and less inclined to listen to other views. Now THAT would be an article!

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