Narcissism in government – A disturbing reality (Part II)

Narcissism in government – A disturbing reality (Part II)

Previously, we opened the topic of narcissism in government, and how we may have become sitting ducks at the receiving end of this behavior. You must remember that narcissists are people who are constantly in a state of need. They are always looking for admiration and attention, and they are so motivated by their need for affirmation that they can become so competent in their careers and become high functioning in their professions. 

It’s a fact that they find themselves in powerful positions in government. Their stature allows them to see everything from the inside out. They can have complete control over the people who work for them, and they often get to act without any accountability. They literally get to make decisions that can affect the lives of millions of people without facing any opposition or scrutiny. If it’s easy enough to see how a narcissist would find a career in government service very appealing, then it’s only fair that we are aware of the ways in which we become victimized by narcissism in government.

Let’s pick up where we left off in Part I of this blog as we continue with our listicle here.

4. Narcissistic rage

Narcissistic rage is a particular type of anger that is often exhibited by people who are in a state of narcissistic injury. An example of this is when they feel that their self-esteem has been undermined. This type of anger can be extremely dangerous, as it can lead to aggressive and destructive behavior. For example, people with narcissistic personality disorder are capable of physical aggression that is often referred to as “sociopathic”. 

Now let’s look back at one of the darkest moments in our nation’s history. For all the sorrow that came with the 911 attack, it has also gone down in history as the event that propelled us into endless wars in the Middle East. How could the most powerful nation in the country get slighted by a small group of individuals and a couple of planes? Clearly, this was too much for Uncle Sam’s ego to handle at that time. And so the destruction of Iraq ensued anyway, just so the land of the free could send a strong message to the rest of the world. But of course, it all turned out much differently than what was originally intended.

5. Projection

Narcissistic individuals often project their faults onto others so that they can feel superior and avoid taking any responsibility for their own actions. They often accuse others of having exactly the same qualities as they do, which is why it’s so difficult to be under this type of influence for long, especially when we’re talking about the ones at the helm. The government blames the media for the current state of affairs when in reality, it’s the politicians and their puppet masters who are responsible.

Often, you would hear a lot of politicians throwing a mouthful of accusations at the media that they consider to be propagators of fake news. Further, they blame the public for falling for the scam that this fake news is, but who’s really behind all of this? The narcissistic politician, that’s who. And that’s exactly what it is – a manipulation of the truth for the benefit of the individual. This is why people call it projection. Narcissists project their own negative qualities onto others in order to make themselves feel better. The next time a politician harps about fake news, look who’s talking. And remember, the truth is always worth investigating.

6. Smear campaign

A smear campaign is the process of damaging someone’s reputation by spreading false or misleading information in order to defame them. Today’s political landscape is filled with examples of such a tactic, which happens to be one of the most obvious traits of a narcissist. This is why it’s so difficult to get any real information out of them. Sometimes, the attempt at damaging the reputation of another can be so subtle that it can escape our awareness.

Not so long ago, a man named George Floyd died at the hands of the police, in what was dubbed as one of the most harrowing incidents of police brutality and racism. This triggered the nation, and it did not take very long until pockets of protests and rallies mushroomed all across the country. And yet, the government decided to criminalize these sorts of protests – an act which had a chilling effect felt most strongly among black communities. To be identified as a protester is one thing, but to be branded as a criminal for such actions is quite another. To many Americans, this felt like a malicious smear.