Trump's Mental Health

by Rob Ferguson

Books and articles have been written about Donald Trump’s personality and mental health (see Reference Section for citations).

Any official diagnosis of a person, for reasons of treatment, hospitalization, legal competency, or forensic evaluation, should be based on a combination of clinical interviews and psychological testing.

Can you imagine Donald Trump cooperating with such a process?

In any case, we’re not dealing with treatment, hospitalization, legal competency, or forensic evaluation. Nor are we dealing with an individual who is suffering, and seeking professional mental health services, such as someone who is anxious, or depressed, or needs help for addiction. Donald Trump’s mental health problems are personality traits, usually referred to as personality disorders. A personality disorder is a type of mental health condition characterized by long-term, enduring patterns of thoughts, behaviors, and emotions that significantly differ from cultural norms and expectations. These patterns are typically inflexible, pervasive across various situations, and can cause distress or problems in a person's social, work, or personal life.

We are dealing with a man seeking the most powerful position in the world, who would have the discretion to drop bombs, arrest people, incite violence, impact livelihoods, mobilize the national guard, etc. And now that the President has been granted immunity by the Supreme Court, it is more important than ever to see Donald Trump clearly.

We have thousands of hours of his speeches, interviews, social media posts, statements, and an extensive record of testimonies of people who have interacted with him. That’s a lot of data.

I have referred to Donald Trump as a narcissist and a sociopath. As a practicing psychologist, I don’t take those words lightly.

But you decide for yourself. Below are some lists of personality traits associated with these labels. I’ve also included a list of the differences between the two. A person can be a narcissist, or a sociopath, or both.

Why is this important?

Because both narcissists and sociopaths have a callous disregard for the needs and rights of others. Because when a narcissist is wounded (for example, he loses an election in 2020), he can’t process the loss the way normal people do. It becomes a narcissistic wound, and a platform for lying and vengeance. And the narcissist-sociopath combination is all the worse. An unrestrained narcissist-sociopath with immense political power is likely to alter the trajectory of the nation, seek revenge on anyone who opposes him, risk war if he gets his feelings hurt, and disregard the norms and institutions that are meant to prevent the abuse of power.

That’s what we should realistically expect from a second Trump presidency.

Personality Traits

Narcissists

Some common traits of narcissists (a.k.a. Narcissist Personality Disorder) include:

Grandiose sense of self-importance: Narcissists have an unreasonably high sense of their own importance and often exaggerate their achievements and talents.
Need for admiration: They require constant, excessive praise and recognition from others.
Lack of empathy: Narcissists struggle to recognize or care about the feelings and needs of others.
Sense of entitlement: They believe they deserve special treatment and privileges without question.
Arrogance: Narcissists often display haughty, arrogant, or contemptuous behaviors and attitudes.
Exploitative behavior: They are willing to take advantage of others to achieve their own goals.
Preoccupation with fantasies of success, power, or brilliance: Narcissists often fantasize about unlimited success, power, or ideal love.
Envy: They are either envious of others or believe that others are envious of them.
Belief in their own superiority: Narcissists think they are superior to others and can only associate with equally special people.
Difficulty handling criticism: They react poorly to perceived slights or criticism, often responding with rage or contempt.

Sociopaths

Some common traits of sociopaths (a.k.a. Antisocial Personality Disorder), include:

Manipulation and Deceit: Sociopaths frequently manipulate and deceive others to achieve their goals. They are often caught lying, exaggerating, or distorting facts.
Lack of Empathy and Remorse: They typically show a profound lack of empathy and do not feel guilt or remorse for their actions, even when causing harm to others.
Impulsivity and Irresponsibility: Sociopaths often make reckless and irresponsible decisions without considering the consequences. They may engage in risky behaviors and fail to plan for the future.
Aggression and Hostility: They can be easily angered and may exhibit aggressive or violent behavior, including physical fights and assaults.
Superficial Charm: Sociopaths can be charming and charismatic, using these traits to manipulate others. However, this charm is often superficial and fades with prolonged interaction.
Disregard for Social Norms and Laws: They often ignore social norms and laws, engaging in criminal behavior and violating the rights of others.
Relationship Difficulties: Sociopaths typically have trouble maintaining healthy relationships due to their manipulative, deceitful, and aggressive behaviors.
Narcissism: They may have a grandiose self-image and a sense of entitlement, often seeking admiration and reacting poorly to criticism.

These traits collectively contribute to the sociopath's ability to create chaos and harm in their personal and professional lives.

Differences

There are some differences in the two personality disorders, but they overlap, and a person can have both disorders combined.

The key differences between narcissists and sociopaths lie in their motivations, empathy levels, and how they interact with others:

Motivation:
Narcissists are primarily driven by a need for admiration, recognition, and ego fulfillment. They have an inflated sense of self-importance and constantly seek validation from others. Sociopaths, on the other hand, are motivated by specific goals and interests, without requiring ego fulfillment. They pursue their objectives regardless of the harm caused to others.

Empathy:
While both lack empathy, narcissists can experience inconsistent and low levels of empathy, often tied to personal gain. They may pretend to care about others to receive attention or praise. Sociopaths, however, are generally incapable of empathy or remorse and may hurt or manipulate people purely for enjoyment.

Interaction with others:
Narcissists view themselves as superior and expect constant praise and special treatment. They can be shallow and self-centered but are concerned with their reputation. Sociopaths treat people as expendable and don't care about their reputation. They can be charming and manipulative but will exploit others to achieve their goals before callously discarding them.

Emotional response:
Narcissists have intense emotional reactions, especially to perceived criticism or slights. They struggle with mood regulation and can be deeply insecure. Sociopaths typically display shallow emotions and are less affected by criticism or normal emotional triggers.

Behavior patterns:
Narcissists engage in grandiose behavior, exaggerate their talents, and seek constant admiration. Sociopaths are more likely to engage in impulsive, risky, and sometimes illegal behaviors without regard for consequences.

In summary:

While both narcissists and sociopaths can be manipulative and lack empathy, narcissists are driven by a need for admiration and have more emotional volatility, while sociopaths are goal-oriented, less emotionally reactive, and more indifferent to others' feelings or societal norms.