In today's article, Dr. Carter reveals why narcissists need to appear in the power position to disguise their weaknesses and self-loathing.
A little cross-disciplinary reading
How this made it onto a blog that, when it shows up, is usually about modern American politics (especially a particular head of state) is something I'll leave as an exercise to the reader. But Erich Fromm's aside in The Art of Loving that narcissism is a form of buried self-loathing got me to thinking about (ahem) certain elements of the present moment.
Which brings us to Dr. Les Carter’s brief but useful article from Surviving Narcissism. It isn't about US presidents, past or present. It definitely is about a personality type where the person "must appear dominant and powerful because inwardly they dread being exposed as fraudulent and weak".
Here's how he begins:
Consider some of a narcissist’s most egregious tendencies: contempt, easy anger, inability to manage conflict well, lots of criticism, defensiveness, dishonesty, condescension, and much more. Each of these inclinations reveals a lack of internal peace. Narcissists are an unhappy, dissatisfied lot. They desperately want to blame their dysfunctions on you, when in fact their dysregulated behaviors arise from within. Though they won’t admit it, narcissists are hindered by a fragile ego. Unsure about the wisest ways to maneuver through life’s challenges, they look outward for solutions because they suffer from psychological ineptitude. Plainly, narcissists do not like who they are, which explains why they are so insistent that you must give them narcissistic supply. They are dependent upon you for regulation because they cannot sufficiently regulate themselves. They will erect a façade of confidence or superiority, yet it is merely window dressing.
(Continue reading (And yes, there are bullet points on the other end of the link.))
















