The Public Needs To Understand Narcissism — Letters that should have been in the new york times

4.17.20

To the editor:

By focusing on President Trump's 'brain', Jennifer Senior (NYT, 4.16.20, Trump's Brain: A Guided Tour) draws attention to the prefrontal cortex; a region of the brain critical in complex decision making. While I agree that President Trump displays deficits in problem solving, thinking of the material 'brain' as dysfunctional is less helpful than understanding that President Trump's mind - his psychology - is the problem.

We tend to think of the major psychiatric illnesses (depression, mania, schizophrenia, PTSD, for example) as causes of impairment in functioning. Donald Trump is a case study in severe narcissistic pathology - personality dynamics - leading to catastrophic damage to our country, world and environment. His constant need to manage his self-esteem interferes with his ability to solve basic problems. For example, his inability to tolerate criticism fueled his decision to withdraw support of the World Health Organization during a pandemic. I believe the public benefits from understanding that severe narcissism is real, and really dangerous, when possessed by the most powerful person in the world.

Respectfully submitted

Larry S Sandberg