I want to talk a little about narcissistic personality disorder. I've unfortunately had a great deal of experience with it, and I'm feeling badly for those of you who are trying to grapple with it for the first time because of our president-elect, who almost certainly suffers from it. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
1) It's not curable and it's barely treatable. He is who he is. There is no getting better, or learning, or adapting. He's not going to "rise to the occasion" for more than maybe a couple hours. So just put that out of your mind.
2) He will say whatever feels most comfortable or good to him at any given time. He will lie a lot, and say totally different things to different people. Stop being surprised by this. While it's important to pretend "good faith" and remind him of promises, as Bernie and others are doing, that's for his supporters, so they can see the inconsistency. He won't care. So if you're trying to reconcile or analyze his words, don't. It's 100% not worth your time. Only pay attention to and address his actions.
3) You can influence him by making him feel good. There are already people like Bannon who are ready to use him for their own ends. The GOP is excited to try. Watch them, not him. President Obama, in his wisdom, is treating him well in hopes of influencing him and possibly averting the worst. If he gets enough accolades for better behavior, he might continue to try it. But don't count on it.
4) Ultimately, he will betray anyone who tries to get close to him. It might take a while, though, so we can't count on that.
5) He only cares about himself and those he views as extensions of himself, like his children. (People with NPD can't understand others as fully human or distinct.) He desires accumulation of wealth and power because it fills a hole. (Melania is probably an acquired item, not an extension.) He will have no qualms at all about stealing everything he can from the country, and he'll be happy to help others do so, if they make him feel good. That is likely the only thing he will intentionally accomplish.
6) It's very, very confusing for non-disordered people to experience a disordered person with NPD. They do not observe social conventions or demonstrate basic human empathy. It's very common for non-disordered people to lower their own expectations and try to normalize the behavior. DO NOT DO THIS AND DO NOT ALLOW OTHERS, ESPECIALLY THE MEDIA, TO DO THIS. If you start to feel foggy or unclear about this, step away until you recalibrate.
7) People with NPD often recruit helpers, referred to in the literature as "enablers" when they allow bad behavior and "flying monkeys" when they perpetrate bad behavior on behalf of the narcissist. Although it's easiest to prey on vulnerable or malicious people, good people can be unwittingly recruited. It will be important to support good people around him if and when they attempt to stay clear or break away.
8) They like to foster competition for sport in people they control. Expect lots of chaos, firings and recriminations. He will probably behave worst toward those closest to him, but that doesn't mean (obviously) that his actions won't have consequences for the rest of us. He will punish enemies. He may start out, as he has with the NYT, with a confusing combination of punishing/rewarding, which is a classic abuse tactic for control. If you see your media cooperating or facilitating this behavior for rewards, call them on it.
9) Gaslighting -- where someone tells you that the reality you've experienced isn't true -- is real and torturous. He will gaslight, his followers will gaslight. The GOP has been gaslighting for 30 years. Learn the signs and find ways to stay focused on what you know to be true.
10) Whenever possible, do not focus on the narcissist or give him attention. Don't circulate his stupid tweets or laugh at him -- you are enabling him and getting his word out. (I've done this, of course, we all have... just try to be aware.) Pay attention to your own emotions: do you sort of enjoy his clowning? is this kind of fun and dramatic, in a sick way? You are adding to his energy. Focus on what you can change and how you can resist, where you are. We are all called to be leaders now, in the absence of leadership.
ここには何もないようです