An interesting perspective from Dr. Paul Minot, a psychiatrist in
Waterville, Maine George Bush's "irrational" consideration of a "surge" in
the wake of the Iraq Study Group report -- which apparently defies all
credible counsel - has begun to generate speculation regarding his sanity.
References to Bush's "delusions" have appeared in the mainstream media and
throughout the blogosphere.
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
FAX: 847-491-9907
http://www.northwestern.edu/ipr/people/schnaibergpapers.html
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