Elly Andrew
JF-Expert Member
- Jun 10, 2011
- 410
- 174
The pathology of the
dictator's mind (Part I)
The past and present dictators like Adolf Hitler ,Saddam Husein , Mugabe and others have a clearly defined psychiatric diagnosis called Malign narcissistic personality disorder. Meles is no different, he has the severest form of this pathological personality disorder.
Spectrum of narcissism can extend from benign form which most of us have (certain degree of self interest is healthy) to a more serious forms of self-obsession including malignant narcissism and psychopathy. Malignant narcissism is high end of narcissistic severity which all dictators share .
Deciding what is normal mental health and what is not is tricky. Sometimes the answer is pretty clear. Individuals like Melees Zenawi, Adolf Hitler, Idi amin, Mugabe and the likes can never be classified as mentally healthy.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is a 2-inch-thick book which classifies and describes more than 300 types of mental disorders. The book, published by the American Psychiatric Association, is used by mental health providers to diagnose everything from anorexia to voyeurism. According to DSM the above individuals fall in the category of mental disorder called Narcissistic personality disorder
Traits of narcissistic personality disorder include the following:
Preoccupation with fantasies that focus on unlimited success, power, intelligence
Belief that he or she is “special” and unique, and can only be understood by other special people
Expectation that others will automatically go along with what he or she wants
Inability to recognize or identify with the feelings, needs, and viewpoints of others
Envy of others or a belief that others are envious of him or her
Hypersensitivity to insults (real or imagined), criticism, or defeat, possibly reacting with rage, shame, and humiliation
Arrogant behavior and/or attitude
copied somewhere.
dictator's mind (Part I)
The past and present dictators like Adolf Hitler ,Saddam Husein , Mugabe and others have a clearly defined psychiatric diagnosis called Malign narcissistic personality disorder. Meles is no different, he has the severest form of this pathological personality disorder.
Spectrum of narcissism can extend from benign form which most of us have (certain degree of self interest is healthy) to a more serious forms of self-obsession including malignant narcissism and psychopathy. Malignant narcissism is high end of narcissistic severity which all dictators share .
Deciding what is normal mental health and what is not is tricky. Sometimes the answer is pretty clear. Individuals like Melees Zenawi, Adolf Hitler, Idi amin, Mugabe and the likes can never be classified as mentally healthy.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is a 2-inch-thick book which classifies and describes more than 300 types of mental disorders. The book, published by the American Psychiatric Association, is used by mental health providers to diagnose everything from anorexia to voyeurism. According to DSM the above individuals fall in the category of mental disorder called Narcissistic personality disorder
Traits of narcissistic personality disorder include the following:
Preoccupation with fantasies that focus on unlimited success, power, intelligence
Belief that he or she is “special” and unique, and can only be understood by other special people
Expectation that others will automatically go along with what he or she wants
Inability to recognize or identify with the feelings, needs, and viewpoints of others
Envy of others or a belief that others are envious of him or her
Hypersensitivity to insults (real or imagined), criticism, or defeat, possibly reacting with rage, shame, and humiliation
Arrogant behavior and/or attitude
copied somewhere.
