Analyzing the Mind Set of President Donald Trump: Does Antisocial Personality

Disorder Fit?
Katherine van Wormer, Professor of Social Work, University of Northern Iowa
Common Dreams, February 3, 2017.
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/02/03/analyzing-mindset-president-
trump-does-antisocial-personality-disorder-fit

Because so many of his executive actions and remarks on tweeter and in interviews
seem rash, commentators, including psychiatrists and psychologists are raising
questions about the stability of President Donald J. Trumps mind. Reportedly, there
is a good fit with Trumps personality characteristics and the DSM-5s (Diagnosis
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality
Disorder. Characteristics of this trait include a desire for unwarranted admiration,
obsession with ones own success and accomplishments, and a sense of
entitlement. Certainly, these traits can be said to apply, even just based on Trumps
speeches alone.
But another, more serious diagnosis might also be worth a look. This is Antisocial
Personality Disorder, a diagnosis assigned to individuals who habitually violate the
rights of others without remorse. Psychopathy is an earlier term that was used for
the same personality traits. Like Narcissistic Personality Disorder, the antisocial
disorder is a personality disorder, which denotes an enduring pattern of behavior or
mindset that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture.
Both the Narcissistic and Antisocial Disorders are associated with males more than
females. Although the latter disorder is prevalent among the male prison
population, it is also found among people in the general population by persons who
have avoided prosecution. They are prone, however, to get into trouble, for
example, through violent relationships or as a result of shady business practices. Let
us review the DSM criteria in light of our presidents actions and statements.
Disregard for others' needs or feelings

Throughout the debates, candidate Trump lashed out with highly personal
insults, such as crooked Hillary, lying Ted, and Little Marco. He
famously mocked a reporter who had a physical disability and implied that a
female reporter was bleeding somewhere. Reports of Trumps groping of
womens bodies have been highly publicized.
Persistent lying, stealing, using aliases, conning others

A few examples of Trumps persistent lying are his continuous accusations

that President Obama was not born in America, his claim that he couldnt
release his tax records because they were under audit, his misrepresentation
of the size of his crowd at the inauguration, and his statements on voter fraud
that were without foundation. A new term alternative facts has been
introduced to describe his claims. There have been reports from Trumps
 earlier business life that he did indeed use an alias in phone calls and that
many of his business practices were unethical.
Recurring problems with the law

Because of his vast wealth, so far, President Trump has managed to pay off
individuals and companies that have filed lawsuits. Numerous reports of
sexual harassment surfaced during Trumps presidential campaign.
Repeated violation of the rights of others

The sexual harassment complaints and the released tape of Trumps bragging
that he could get away with groping womens bodies because of his celebrity
status are relevant here.

Aggressive, often violent behavior

See above. In addition, Trumps biography reveals that he was sent to a tough
military academy due to a pattern of aggressive and bullying behavior as a
boy. Today, Trumps repeated remarks in favor of using torture as an
interrogation procedure are reflective of his mind set. His expressed
willingness to kill and even target family members of terrorists would be
considered extreme even in military circles.
Disregard for the safety of self or others

Executive orders banning refugees from entering America, and his callous
statements concerning their well-being and even risks to their lives if
deported show a disregard for human life and safety.
Impulsive behavior

The rash acts emerging from the White House have been criticized by
members of Congress and have led to confusion within government circles.
Consistently irresponsible

Some of Trumps personal attacks on othersboth political rivals and foreign

leadersare indicative of both impulsiveness and irresponsibility. Denial of
the need to prevent global warming can be considered as an attitude that
borders on the irresponsible as well.
Lack of remorse for behavior

No signs of remorse have been expressed. Nor is there any evidence of a

sense of embarrassment when Trumps lies have been exposed through
media investigations.
Readers can form their own conclusions to what extent the diagnosis of Antisocial
Personality Disorder applies to President Trump. And one can only fear for the fate
of America and for the world to the extent that even some of these personality
characteristics apply.