Bush: Psychoanalyzed

Written by: David Reiter on Feb 25, 2007 4:18 PM EST

Linked to groups: Florida DFA

As a psychiatrist, I understandably get concerned when I see clinical
terminology bandied about in political discourse, and thought it might be of interest
to share a professional perspective on this question. I have a distinct
clinical impression that I think explains much of Mr. Bush's visible pathology.

First and foremost, George W. Bush has a Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
What this means, is that he has rather desperate insecurities about himself,
and compensates by constructing a grandiose self-image. Most of his
relationships are either mirroring relationships -- people who flatter him and reinforce
his grandiosity -- or idealized self-objects -- people that he himself thinks a
lot of, and hence feels flattered by his association with them. Some likely
perform both functions. Hence his weakness for sycophants like Harriet Miers,
and powerful personalities like Dick Cheney. Even as a narcissist, Bush knows
he isn't a great intellect, and compensates by dismissing the value of
intellect altogether. Hence his disses of Gore's bookishness, and any other
intellectual that isn't flattering him. Bush knows that his greatest personal strength
is projecting personal affability, and tries to utilize it even in the most
inappropriate settings. That's why he gives impromptu backrubs to the German
Chancellor in a diplomatic meeting -- he's insecure intellectually, and tries to
make everyone into a "buddy" so he can feel more secure.

The most disturbing aspect about narcissists, however, is their pathological
inability to empathize with others, with the exception of those who either
mirror them, or whom they idealize. Hence Bush's horrifying insensitivity to the
Katrina victims, his callous jokes when visiting grievously injured soldiers,
and numerous other instances. He simply has no capacity to feel for others in
that way. When LBJ was losing Vietnam, he developed a haunted expression that
anybody could recognize as indicative of underlying anguish. For all his
faults, you just knew he was losing sleep over it. By the same token, we know just
as well that Bush isn't losing any sleep over dead American soldiers, to say
nothing of dead Iraqis. He didn't exhibit any sign of significant concern until
his own political popularity was sliding -- because THAT'S something he CAN
feel.

Which brings us to his recent "delusion." To be blunt, I don't see any
indication that Bush has any sort of psychotic disorder whatsoever. The lapses in
reality-testing that he exhibits are the sort that can be readily explained by
his characterological insensitivity to the feelings and perceptions of others,
due to his persistently self-centered frame of reference.

Mr. Bush knows that things aren't going his way in Iraq, and he knows that it
is damaging him politically. He also sees that it is likely to get worse no
matter what he does, and in fact it may be a lost cause. However, he recognizes
that if he follows the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, that Iraq
will almost certainly evolve into a puppet state of Iran, and given his treatment
of Iran he will completely lose control of the situation -- and he will be
politically discredited for this outcome.

The ONLY chance that he has to avoid this political disaster, and save his
political skin, is to hope against hope for "victory" in Iraq. Advancing the
"surge" idea offers Bush two political advantages over following the ISG
recommendations. One is that if it is implemented, maybe, just maybe, he can pull out
some sort of nominal "victory" out of the situation. The chances are
exceedingly slim, granted, but slim is better to him than the alternative (none).
Alternately, if the "surge" is politically rejected, he gains some political cover,
so when things inevitably go bad, he can say "I told you so" and blame the
"surrender monkeys" for the outcome. Most people probably won't buy it, but some
(his core base) will.

Now, I know what many of you are thinking -- is George Bush willing to risk
the lives of hundreds, maybe thousands more American soldiers, on an outside
chance to save his political skin, in a half-baked plan that even he knows
probably won't work at all? Yes, he is. Because George Bush is that narcissistic,
that desperate, and yes, that sociopathic as well.

Especially interesting about Mr. Bush, but quite common, Narcissistic
Personality Disorder is frequently associated with alcoholism. The insufferable
"holier than thou" attitude associated with "Dry Drunk Syndrome" is indicative of
underlying narcissism.

Also, the way that Bush embraces Christianity is characteristically
narcissistic. Rather than incorporating the lessons of humility and empathy modeled by
Jesus, Bush uses his Christian faith to reinforce his grandiosity. Jesus is
his powerful ally, his idealized "buddy" who gives a rubber stamp to anything he
thinks.

Finally -- and this will sound VERY familiar to many readers -- those persons
with NPD are notoriously unable to say they're sorry. Admitting error is
fundamentally incompatible with their precarious efforts to maintain their sense
of order. Anyone having this particular character flaw almost certainly has NPD.


ALLAN SCHNAIBERG
Professor of Sociology &
Faculty Associate, Institute for Policy Research
Northwestern University
1812 Chicago Avenue, room 108
Evanston, IL 60208
847-491-3202

Tags: