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Kim Nesvig's avatar

Out of curiosity, I googled a clinical scoring system for diagnosing a psychopath (below). Sound like anyone we all know?

1: Glibness/superficial charm

2: Grandiose sense of self-worth

3: Need for stimulation/proneness to boredom

4: Pathological lying

5: Conning/manipulative

6: Lack of remorse or guilt

7: Shallow affect

8: Callous/lack of empathy

9: Parasitic lifestyle

10: Poor behavioral controls

11: Promiscuous sexual behavior

12: Early behavior problems

13: Lack of realistic long-term goals

14: Impulsivity

15: Irresponsibility

16: Failure to accept responsibility for own actions

17: Many short-term marital relationships

18: Juvenile delinquency

19: Revocation of conditional release

20: Criminal versatility

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Anthony Lapadula's avatar

"I got a perfect score!" -- Trump

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Kim Nesvig's avatar

Person, woman, man, camera, psychopath…

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JMFK's avatar

I recall seeing an article by someone who had scored Trump using this system, which scores 0 for each attribute if they are not exhibited, 2 if they are exhibited often, and 1 if occasionally, so the best possible overall score is 0 and the worst is 40. The author said that men incarcerated in our prisons on average score around 22, while, Trump, based on his public statements and actions, scored 34.

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Pete C's avatar

Vincent Greenwood is good at explaining Trump's psychopathy. Here's a link:

https://thedailyedge.substack.com/p/a-most-dangerous-case

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Kim Nesvig's avatar

Absolutely spot on! Interesting that Greenwood used the metaphor of a sociopath as a preening peacock, while a psychopath is a cold blooded snake. How many times has Trump recited that story about the snake? He literally has been telling his supporters exactly how toxic and remorseless he is.

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eah's avatar

He used the peacock as a metaphor for narcissists, not for sociopaths. He went on to compare narcissism to psychopathology. Sociopathology as a diagnosis and description of behavior has fallen by the wayside as psychologists have turned away from its foundation, Behaviorism, over the last 20-30 years.

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Kim Nesvig's avatar

You’re right. I dashed that off rather hastily. But you got my point about the snake.

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eah's avatar

Oh, yes. Trump behaves like a snake in so many ways.

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rlritt's avatar

I know, but I really believe his supporters don't think he's talking about them. In some unbelievable way, they identify with him and don't see they are just his patsy. However, when you recall all the phoney pastors who have gained riches by preaching to these devout Christians, it's easy to see how easy it is for them to be exploited. (And some of these preachers are still influential even after their dishonesty is revealed!)

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Pete C's avatar

I have friends and family who support Trump. When given the opportunity, I tell them that he reminds me of Charles Manson. That catches them off guard, at least. To me, Trump is Charles Manson with a trust fund.

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JMFK's avatar

Though I cannot now recall all the pertinent details, several years ago I came across a story by a journalist who said he had taken a course years prior (I think in the early 1990s) in handwriting analysis from one of the leading experts and developers of the field. One of the handwriting samples they reviewed, initially anonymously, was Trump's. In discussion with the professor after the class, he became more and more animated about the threat Trump posed according to the analysis, finally saying that the only other sample he had ever seen that was as full of evil portent was that of Charles Manson.

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Pete C's avatar

Thanks for this. It doesn't surprise me to hear. Trump's signature is bizarre, like the violent ups and downs of his tormented brain.

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David Court's avatar

Charles Manson died at age 83 after four decades in prison. I'll accept 82 and only four years.

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Eric Foley's avatar

Had a “table topic” card come up in a dinner out while we were trying to kill time, asking, “What question would you want to ask someone spending life in prison?”

My answer: “Will Don Jr or Ivanka take over the company?”

Petty, but somewhat heartfelt.

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Cindy's avatar

You just made my day! I’m good with petty.

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David Court's avatar

Letitia would answer "What company?"

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Colleen Kochivar-Baker's avatar

Thanks Kim. Sometimes I think people think of Trump's narcissism as a character flaw just like some asshole at work that can't stop talking about himself but he's basically harmless. The operative word in Trump's case is 'malignant', not narcissism. In Trump's case the narcissism is just one facet of the total psychopathic personality.

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Mingus Khan's avatar

Very true. And while this is not a clinical diagnosis, see how frequently you can spot Trump (and his supporters) drop a line from the Narcissist's Prayer:

That didn't happen.

And if it did, it wasn't that bad.

And if it was, that's not a big deal.

And if it is, that's not my fault.

And if it was, I didn't mean it.

And if I did, you deserved it.

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dan aire's avatar

Terrifying

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