Told you so! Told you so!

506afc27dbd0cb30770014f1._w.1500_s.fit_As far as I can determine (and I’ve actually done the research), the current political embarrassment of the United States (read: the leading Republican presidential hopeful and followers) is all related to M&Ms. Yes! M&Ms! Plus, of course, the constant ad nauseum commentary “Good job!” to little kids.

First of all, psychologists and other experts are beginning to speak out about the possibility that Mr. T likely suffers from NPD – Narcissistic Personality Disorder. An article in “Psychology Today” by Randi Kreger lists five main NPD traits:
An exaggerated sense of self-importance and exaggerating achievements
Obsession with image; needs to be the focus of attention
Feelings of entitlement
Lack of empathy
Relationships largely superficial and exist for personal gain and to inflate self-esteem

168605_600All of which may explain something about the candidate, but what is his apparent appeal to millions of potential voters? Perhaps some of the answers can be found in The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement, a book by Jean M. Twenge and W. Keith Campbell. It was published in April 2009 by Free Press, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. These paragraphs jumped right out at me:

There is no single cause of the narcissism epidemic; instead we point to several contributing factors in the book. Admiring oneself is now considered crucial to success in life. This began in earnest in the 1970s, became more influential with the self-esteem movement in the 1980s and 1990s, and today is taken for granted in American culture. We see this in slogans like “You have to love yourself before you can love others” and at preschools with young children singing, “I am special/Look at me.”

At the core of narcissism is the fantasy that you are better than you really are (and better than those around you). Any process that allows that fantasy to exist despite the less glamorous reality is an opportunity for narcissism to thrive…

007 and the QueenOh, how well I remember being the voice in the wilderness at faculty meetings during the 1980s and 1990s, when I spoke against giving kids those meaningless compliments for following the rules or for learning their math facts or for waiting patiently in line.

“Why are we making a Big Deal out of kids meeting normal expectations?” I kept asking.

“The kids know false praise when they hear it,” I kept saying…

“What values are we instilling?” I kept wondering…

7 Responses to “Told you so! Told you so!”

  1. Jane E Smith says:

    Thanks for coming up with the best explanation I have seen so far. All I can say about what is going on politically is, “I just don’t get it.” Even though I won’t be voting for ANY of the GOP candidates, I would like to see a reasonable candidate (which I don’t see in any of them). No further words.

    If you want to have a fun evening, my sister-in-law Judy Fjell is performing a musical concert in Astoria Monday night at the community college. Good old singing and songwriting. We will be spending Monday night in Astoria, then crossing the bridge to spend Tuesday night in Ilwaco. I need to have my favorite steak dinner at The Depot on Tuesday night.

    Your loyal follower-who-you-don’t-know in Ridgefied, WA (formerly Wenatchee), Jane

  2. Stephanie Frieze says:

    Outstanding÷

  3. Pat Bell Wollner says:

    This makes more sense than lots of other things I’ve heard or read. Spot on!

  4. Did a bog on this recently. Psychopaths and Narcissism coming off the list of mental illness because there are too many of us.

  5. Cindy says:

    Hear ye hear ye sister!!!

  6. sydney says:

    Must have missed it. Will look it up. Thanks!

  7. Marion Freshley says:

    Loved this article Sydney! I too don’t believe in rewards for expected good behavior. If a child goes way beyond and does a wonderfully kind deed all on their own for someone then maybe recognition is warranted.

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