CounterPunch
October 2,
2002
Is the President
Nuts?
Diagnosing
Dubya
by CAROL WOLMAN,
M.D.
Many
people, inside and especially outside this country, believe that the American
president is nuts, and is taking the world on a suicidal path. As a
board-certified psychiatrist, I feel it's my duty to share my understanding of
his psychopathology. He's a complicated man, under tremendous pressure from both
his family/junta, and from the world at large. So the following is offered with
humility and questioning, in the form of a differential
diagnosis.
From the
Freudian point of view:
Dubya may be acting out a classical Oedipal
drama--overcome Daddy to get Mommy. By deposing Saddam, when his father did not,
he may want to prove himself more worthy of his mother's love. His rationale
that he is avenging the assassination attempt on George, Sr., may be a reaction
formation- his way of hiding the true motive from himself.
From the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Fourth Edition:
Antisocial Personality
Disorder--301.7
There is a pervasive pattern of disregard for and
violation of the rights of others since age 15 years as indicated by at least
three of the following: 1) failure to conform to social norms with respect to
lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for
arrest; 2) deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or
conning others for personal profit or pleasure; 5) reckless disregard for safety
of self or others; 7) lack of remorse by being indifferent to or rationalizing
having hurt, mistreated or stolen from others.
Another possibility from
DSM IV:
Dissociative Identity Disorder
(formerly Multiple Personality Disorder) 300.14
A) The presence of two or more distinct identities, each
with its own enduring pattern of perceiving, relating to and thinking about the
environment and self.
B) At least two of these identities or personality states
recurrently take control of the person's behavior.
This disorder is
typical of people raised by satanic cults, and might explain how Dubya can think
of himself as a born-again Christian and yet worship money, oil and profit, and
sanction killing thousands of innocent Iraqi and Afghani
children.
Another possibility:
Narcissistic personality disorder
301.81
1) has a grandiose sense of self-importance- exaggerates
achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without
commensurate achievements;
2) in preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success,
power, brilliance, beauty or ideal love;
3) believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can
only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or
high-status
people;
4) requires excessive admiration;
5) has a sense of entitlement- unreasonable expectations
of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or
her
expectations;
6) is interpersonally exploitative;
7) lacks empathy, is unwilling to recognize or identify
with the feelings and needs of others;
9) shows arrogant, haughty behavior or
attitudes.
This set of characteristics may describe Rumsfeld and
Cheney better than Dubya.
Or, for those who feel that he's just a puppet
for others:
Dependent Personality Disorder
301.6
1) has difficulty making everyday decisions without an
excessive amount of advice and reassurance from others;
2) needs others to assume responsibility for most major
areas of his life;
3) has difficulty expressing disagreement with others
because of fear of loss of support or approval;
4) has difficulty initiating projects or doing things on
his own because of a lack of self-confidence in judgment or
abilities.
5. goes to excessive lengths to obtain nurturance and
support from others, to the point of doing things that are
unpleasant.
From a
Jungian point of view:
Dubya may be identifying with an archetype (as Hitler did
with the ubermensch)--something out of Revelations, perhaps, whereby he sees
himself as an instrument of God's will to bring about Armageddon.
Dr. Carol Wolman is a
board certified psychiatrist, in practice for 30 years. She can be reached at:
cwolman@xxxxxxx