Dr. Goyal, your article truly helps others to SEE a possibility of the distortion of Trump’s life. I wish that the far right would read your articles, in a thoughtful way, but this is probably wishful thinking on my part.
The main thing that I want to say to you is “Thank You”! Keep up the good work! You are helping so many people walk through these days with more understanding.
All that I know is that in the remaining time that I have on this earth, I will NEVER give up!
This was my worst fear leading up to his re-election: that even if he lost, the courts were taking so long to process his travesties (and issuing horrendous precedents like Cannon's and the SCOTUS hard-rightists') that he might be able to qualify for incompetence by the time it was over.
While I agree with the traits this author has deemed "sociopathic narcissist" , i would suggest that psychopathy is high contender. My rational for this more severe diagnosis comes from my observations that Trump really does ENJOY" inflicting pain" on others. It's not only that his affect is not normal, and he will do whatever he wants to get what he wants without remorse. Rather he enjoys the game of pain , he wants retribution , loves to humiliate and berate others , and loves the idea of ruling the world in cruel and calculated ways. Whereas, the sociopath is generally so good at being bad, he doesn't even have to think about it.
I think it was John Hopkins who cited "Malevolent Narcissist" and then someone smart introduced the word SOLIPSIST into our vocabulary. It's worth looking up, because it does introduce a tinge of psychosis into his psychopathy. THEY really, truly, believe in what they are saying, even in the midst of evidence that it isn't true. The interview with PM Carney was a great example of his total denial of reality. "I'm glad it wasn't obvious what I was thinking"... ha. The orange ick didn't see it at all!
Regardless of Trump’s supposed diagnosis he is effectively dysfunctional and dangerous. He is responsible for his crimes as are those who enable him. The observables speak for themselves.
"Not fit to be president of a book club..."Yet, he rules! Throughout history such men have sat on thrones and in armchairs, perched upon parade stands and looked out and down upon the masses frolicking hither and thither! {there, to that place; to that end} ShakespearesWords.com
In a story from The Complete Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales, he writes of a cruel, sadistic king, who, when back in kingship, got even with an enemy by having him watch as he tortured and killed his young children before his eyes, then the father had his eyes gouged out, so that his memory would forever be that scene of torment. We are watching the same scenes; as poor, young and old, disabled children and the marginalized are suffering right before our eyes. I'll have to keep reading that history tale to find out how it ended. Or did it?
I had an in-law live in my home for years who was a sociopathic narcissist. This person was evil, delighted in causing pain and harm. They have tremendous powers of persuasion and can turn even your family members against you while causing them to only believe what the narcissist tells them.
Interesting I agree more sociopathic/ narcissistic perhaps anti social personality disorder. Would his beliefs about the 2020 election be considered delusional?
He’s always come across as malicious to me. Not mentally unwell, but reveling in the harm he can cause others and ultimately get away with. It’s sad, and I think it also speaks volumes to how fundamentally broken major US institutions are that he keeps gaining more power.
As I often do, Dan, I completely agree with your insights and have been reflecting on similar thoughts for quite some time.
One point I’d like to add is that we now have a second consecutive president—three if we count Trump twice—who has shown significant cognitive impairment, as many close to both Trump and Biden have noted.
The core issue lies within the American political system. Government is a vast organism, and the president is not always the most pivotal figure. There’s a saying in politics: “It’s only when you reach the top that you realise you’re actually just in the middle.” This is evident in how Biden’s cognitive decline was apparent long before he was deemed fit to run for a second term. They knew his situation and still put him forward. We’d of dodged a bullet, if we’d not then been hit by the dirty bomb that is Trump 2.0
Many behind the scenes have worked to maintain the façade, and the media’s complacency has allowed this illusion to persist. The cracks became undeniable when Biden was put on stage to speak alone for nearly two hours, revealing the extent of his impairment. Many really didn’t want him to, but they had to roll the dice and it all fell apart. Yet, they still thought they’d put him forward for another crack. Where I live, we call that “elders abuse”.
America has had more than its fair share of less-than-capable presidents. George W. Bush Jr. was certainly not the brightest, while Obama and Clinton, despite their flaws, provided a semblance of stability.
Many believe the Trump administration was years in the making, orchestrated by the Heritage Foundation, possibly dating back to the Reagan era.
As you mentioned Trump may now be exhibiting signs of early dementia, but his other personality traits have been evident for a very long time.
Concerns about Reagan’s cognitive health emerged during his second term, and he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s shortly after leaving office, highlighting the long-standing issues within the system.
The American political system is fundamentally broken, and that’s not a new revelation. While voters can be blamed for electing a liability like Trump, both the Republican and Democratic parties have put forward candidates with serious cognitive impairments.
Depending on how long Trump remains in the spotlight, it’s likely the United States will have gone a full decade without a fully competent leader.
Whether they are scapegoats or a reflection of a deeper issue, this pattern continues in what is purportedly the world’s greatest and most powerful nation.
That big red button, we really can’t trust it’s in competent hands.
Well explained, Dan. I recommend "The Fear Factor: How One Emotion Connects Altruists, Psychopaths and Everyone In-Between" by Abigail Marsh. She and colleagues studied teens who were diagnosed (even self-referred) as psychopaths. The examples and breakdowns of how they operate internally is excellent. There is even evidence their amygdalae are smaller some times. THEY DO NOT FEEL FEAR: not of consequences, think they are too big to fail, nothing will hurt them, and they will never have to suffer their own (let alone empathically) consequences of judgment. It makes them unbeatable. Hannibal Lecter being one of his "great characters" shows what these terrible terrible men admire. NO FEAR.
As you know, this retired psychiatrist/addictionist/stress researcher begs to disagree. I clearly see and have diagnosed DJT with a "Borderline Personality Disorder, with sociopathic, narcissistic, hystrionic, anti-social, and paranoid traits; not to forget his delusional, psychotic forays and probable Bipolar II and ADHD symptoms. He, also, shows further clear signs and symptoms of short=term memory loss, aka "dementia". I have written about this in numerous essays in "Greeley's Newsletter" on substack.com. "The distinction is important".
What is the clinical experience of a "physician" and "neuroscientist" who presents himself as a psychiatric diagnostician? I began to study personality disorders at lectures by Otto Kernberg and saw 25,000+ patients over 42 yrs. of a clinical/academic career. Apparently, you and the other "experts" giving their opinions here are unqualified to express unreferenced opinions about DJT's psychiatric condition. This is a good example of the core weakness of internet "expert" opinions. Sad.
Gee, Dan, you sound increasingly like an AI bot, as psychiatrists must first "train" in medicine before "training" psychiatry", neither of which do you show evidence of having done. Nice try, AI.
There are plenty of older psychiatrists who know very little about dementia (your comment about memory loss equating with "dementia" is an inaccurate definition. I work with many doctors who know very little about cognitive impairment. You sound like one of those doctors who doesn't believe nutrition has anything to do with our chronic illness and disease epidemic. So tired of arrogant older doctors who think they still know it all. Humility is a much better look on people than arrogance.
Ha! I think you forgot to include Passive Aggressive PD... that man can hold a grudge like no other! What do you call it when someone has ALL the traits of a personality disorder? I'm thinking of a Stephen King novel, with Pennywise the Clown...
Passive aggressive PD is NOT included in the DSM5, but the behavior is evident in Our Mad King Donald and others avoiding the truth while expressing indirectly their anger, as is also true of sarcasm.
To what do you attribute his word salads, incoherence, and inability to find words? It looks like more advanced cognitive decline rather than normal aging.
If everything you wriote about Trump is true, and if that's what it takes to Make America Great Again then so be it. And if what the previous administration under Biden and camala did was considered normal then there is something seriously wrong with our understanding of reality. You should consider reading the book - Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense
Dr. Goyal, your article truly helps others to SEE a possibility of the distortion of Trump’s life. I wish that the far right would read your articles, in a thoughtful way, but this is probably wishful thinking on my part.
The main thing that I want to say to you is “Thank You”! Keep up the good work! You are helping so many people walk through these days with more understanding.
All that I know is that in the remaining time that I have on this earth, I will NEVER give up!
Sincerely,
Richard
I agree! We do not want to provide his lawyers with an “out” on his responsibility and intent for all his evil actions.
This was my worst fear leading up to his re-election: that even if he lost, the courts were taking so long to process his travesties (and issuing horrendous precedents like Cannon's and the SCOTUS hard-rightists') that he might be able to qualify for incompetence by the time it was over.
While I agree with the traits this author has deemed "sociopathic narcissist" , i would suggest that psychopathy is high contender. My rational for this more severe diagnosis comes from my observations that Trump really does ENJOY" inflicting pain" on others. It's not only that his affect is not normal, and he will do whatever he wants to get what he wants without remorse. Rather he enjoys the game of pain , he wants retribution , loves to humiliate and berate others , and loves the idea of ruling the world in cruel and calculated ways. Whereas, the sociopath is generally so good at being bad, he doesn't even have to think about it.
It’s a fair point. I guess I should have wrote sociopath/psychopath, as to determine which would require an actual assessment
I think it was John Hopkins who cited "Malevolent Narcissist" and then someone smart introduced the word SOLIPSIST into our vocabulary. It's worth looking up, because it does introduce a tinge of psychosis into his psychopathy. THEY really, truly, believe in what they are saying, even in the midst of evidence that it isn't true. The interview with PM Carney was a great example of his total denial of reality. "I'm glad it wasn't obvious what I was thinking"... ha. The orange ick didn't see it at all!
Regardless of Trump’s supposed diagnosis he is effectively dysfunctional and dangerous. He is responsible for his crimes as are those who enable him. The observables speak for themselves.
"Not fit to be president of a book club..."Yet, he rules! Throughout history such men have sat on thrones and in armchairs, perched upon parade stands and looked out and down upon the masses frolicking hither and thither! {there, to that place; to that end} ShakespearesWords.com
In a story from The Complete Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales, he writes of a cruel, sadistic king, who, when back in kingship, got even with an enemy by having him watch as he tortured and killed his young children before his eyes, then the father had his eyes gouged out, so that his memory would forever be that scene of torment. We are watching the same scenes; as poor, young and old, disabled children and the marginalized are suffering right before our eyes. I'll have to keep reading that history tale to find out how it ended. Or did it?
A sadist.
Trump seems to fit the definition of a malignant narcissist.
He is certainly a danger to others, and therefore should be institutionalised, to protect society from being harmed by him.
I had an in-law live in my home for years who was a sociopathic narcissist. This person was evil, delighted in causing pain and harm. They have tremendous powers of persuasion and can turn even your family members against you while causing them to only believe what the narcissist tells them.
Interesting I agree more sociopathic/ narcissistic perhaps anti social personality disorder. Would his beliefs about the 2020 election be considered delusional?
I liken him as fit to be leader of frat bros, not president. A fascinating insight. I agree.
He’s always come across as malicious to me. Not mentally unwell, but reveling in the harm he can cause others and ultimately get away with. It’s sad, and I think it also speaks volumes to how fundamentally broken major US institutions are that he keeps gaining more power.
As I often do, Dan, I completely agree with your insights and have been reflecting on similar thoughts for quite some time.
One point I’d like to add is that we now have a second consecutive president—three if we count Trump twice—who has shown significant cognitive impairment, as many close to both Trump and Biden have noted.
The core issue lies within the American political system. Government is a vast organism, and the president is not always the most pivotal figure. There’s a saying in politics: “It’s only when you reach the top that you realise you’re actually just in the middle.” This is evident in how Biden’s cognitive decline was apparent long before he was deemed fit to run for a second term. They knew his situation and still put him forward. We’d of dodged a bullet, if we’d not then been hit by the dirty bomb that is Trump 2.0
Many behind the scenes have worked to maintain the façade, and the media’s complacency has allowed this illusion to persist. The cracks became undeniable when Biden was put on stage to speak alone for nearly two hours, revealing the extent of his impairment. Many really didn’t want him to, but they had to roll the dice and it all fell apart. Yet, they still thought they’d put him forward for another crack. Where I live, we call that “elders abuse”.
America has had more than its fair share of less-than-capable presidents. George W. Bush Jr. was certainly not the brightest, while Obama and Clinton, despite their flaws, provided a semblance of stability.
Many believe the Trump administration was years in the making, orchestrated by the Heritage Foundation, possibly dating back to the Reagan era.
As you mentioned Trump may now be exhibiting signs of early dementia, but his other personality traits have been evident for a very long time.
Concerns about Reagan’s cognitive health emerged during his second term, and he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s shortly after leaving office, highlighting the long-standing issues within the system.
The American political system is fundamentally broken, and that’s not a new revelation. While voters can be blamed for electing a liability like Trump, both the Republican and Democratic parties have put forward candidates with serious cognitive impairments.
Depending on how long Trump remains in the spotlight, it’s likely the United States will have gone a full decade without a fully competent leader.
Whether they are scapegoats or a reflection of a deeper issue, this pattern continues in what is purportedly the world’s greatest and most powerful nation.
That big red button, we really can’t trust it’s in competent hands.
Well explained, Dan. I recommend "The Fear Factor: How One Emotion Connects Altruists, Psychopaths and Everyone In-Between" by Abigail Marsh. She and colleagues studied teens who were diagnosed (even self-referred) as psychopaths. The examples and breakdowns of how they operate internally is excellent. There is even evidence their amygdalae are smaller some times. THEY DO NOT FEEL FEAR: not of consequences, think they are too big to fail, nothing will hurt them, and they will never have to suffer their own (let alone empathically) consequences of judgment. It makes them unbeatable. Hannibal Lecter being one of his "great characters" shows what these terrible terrible men admire. NO FEAR.
As you know, this retired psychiatrist/addictionist/stress researcher begs to disagree. I clearly see and have diagnosed DJT with a "Borderline Personality Disorder, with sociopathic, narcissistic, hystrionic, anti-social, and paranoid traits; not to forget his delusional, psychotic forays and probable Bipolar II and ADHD symptoms. He, also, shows further clear signs and symptoms of short=term memory loss, aka "dementia". I have written about this in numerous essays in "Greeley's Newsletter" on substack.com. "The distinction is important".
The psychosis would essential nullify and trump the PD diagnosis. I do appreciate your view, but can’t see a psychosis as part of the explanation.
What is the clinical experience of a "physician" and "neuroscientist" who presents himself as a psychiatric diagnostician? I began to study personality disorders at lectures by Otto Kernberg and saw 25,000+ patients over 42 yrs. of a clinical/academic career. Apparently, you and the other "experts" giving their opinions here are unqualified to express unreferenced opinions about DJT's psychiatric condition. This is a good example of the core weakness of internet "expert" opinions. Sad.
No need for that kind of chat, Greeley. I first trained in psychiatry before training in medicine. Think you missed the point of my article.
Gee, Dan, you sound increasingly like an AI bot, as psychiatrists must first "train" in medicine before "training" psychiatry", neither of which do you show evidence of having done. Nice try, AI.
There are plenty of older psychiatrists who know very little about dementia (your comment about memory loss equating with "dementia" is an inaccurate definition. I work with many doctors who know very little about cognitive impairment. You sound like one of those doctors who doesn't believe nutrition has anything to do with our chronic illness and disease epidemic. So tired of arrogant older doctors who think they still know it all. Humility is a much better look on people than arrogance.
Ha! I think you forgot to include Passive Aggressive PD... that man can hold a grudge like no other! What do you call it when someone has ALL the traits of a personality disorder? I'm thinking of a Stephen King novel, with Pennywise the Clown...
Passive aggressive PD is NOT included in the DSM5, but the behavior is evident in Our Mad King Donald and others avoiding the truth while expressing indirectly their anger, as is also true of sarcasm.
To what do you attribute his word salads, incoherence, and inability to find words? It looks like more advanced cognitive decline rather than normal aging.
If everything you wriote about Trump is true, and if that's what it takes to Make America Great Again then so be it. And if what the previous administration under Biden and camala did was considered normal then there is something seriously wrong with our understanding of reality. You should consider reading the book - Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense