Running head: MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES

Multiple Personality Perspectives of Margaret Trudeau

Tanya Weller

Student ID: 185301861

Psychology 230 Dr. Michelle McCarron

Term Paper

October 30, 2013

 Abstract

A difficult and complicating factor in determining personality characteristics occurs when ones

personality is divided, sometimes unevenly, between two opposite poles. Margaret Trudeau

suffers from bipolar disorder, which leaves her reeling from the aftermath of manic episodes.

This essay will attempt to define Margaret Trudeaus dispositions, the role birth order played in

her life, and how biological influences shape who she is. Ms. Trudeau was a carefree and

socially attuned young lady who was thrust into the political and public eye at the tender age of

22. Unable to adjust her temper the dramatic changes in both her personal life and her sudden

exposure to mass media, Margaret Trudeau, understandably, folded.

Keywords: biological, birth order, dispositional, NEO PI-R, perspective

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 Multiple Personality Perspectives of Margaret Trudeau

Herein is a study in contrasts. As the private and publicized life of Margaret Trudeau is

revealed to us, we cannot help but be drawn to her complexities. As unique and individual as Ms.

Trudeau is, there is a common thread that connects her with many others that share her suffering.

As a child she shared a close relationship with her family. Just after finishing college she

ventured away from her family to explore distant lands. Margaret Trudeaus freedom ended

abruptly when she married the Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau, a man almost 30 years

her senior. In her quest to be recognized as independent and capable she tried, unsuccessfully, to

embrace freedom and companionship. This only brought Ms. Trudeau shame and infamy.

Feelings of isolation drew her away from family, friends and eventually, even her husband and

children. Restoring a reality of normalcy was a painful yet rewarding journey.

Defining Personality Traits

McCarron notes that [Allport] saw these [traits] as real characteristics

that exist in people and make up who we are (McCarron, 2013, Unit 6, p. 2).

Lickerman has an interesting take on personality: Personality is easy to

read, and we're all experts at it. We judge people funny, extroverted,

energetic, optimistic, confidentas well as overly serious, lazy, negative,

and shyif not upon first meeting them, then shortly thereafter. (2011).

Dispositional Perspectives

Theory Overview

The Five Factor Model of personality was pioneered by W.T. Norman who, in 1963,

found through his research that people have five cardinal traits: extraversion, agreeableness,
conscientiousness, emotional stability [neuroticism], and culture [openness to experience]

(McCarron, 2013, Unit 6, p. 2.2). Norman suggested that the aforementioned terms, constituted

an adequate taxonomy of personality traits (McCrae & Costa, 1990, p. 31). McCrae and John

further elaborate that all five factors were shown to have convergent and discriminant validity

across instruments and observers, and to endure across decades in adults (as cited in McCrae &

John, 2003, p. 176).

When they re-examined Normans five factor theory, and they found striking parallels to

our own. They also found that they could fit their three factors into Normans group. McCrae

and Costa set out to do studies to confirm this and folded their theory into a five factor model.

According to them we developed scales to measure Agreeableness and Conscientiousness to

supplement [their] original and published it as the NEO personal Inventory or NEO-PI [in 1985]

(McCrae and Costa, 1990, p.31). The acronym represents neuroticism, extraversion, and

openness to experience. A revision was made and published in 1992 (McCarron, 2013, Unit 6, p.

2.2). This method of evaluating personality is in common use, says Kim et al, in both healthy

individuals and psychiatric patients (2012, p. 348).

NEO PI-R Results. Trudeaus high score on extraversion means her energy comes

from being around others. She is gregarious, lively and enjoys the presence of others. Friedman

and Schustack are on the mark when they write being high on the Agreeableness scale, subjects

[such as Margaret Trudeau] would likely be altruistic[and] may be fine leaders of nonprofit

organizations (Friedman & Schustack, 2012, p. 266). Compassion cooperation and willingness

to go along with others are also facets of agreeableness. Scoring low level of conscientiousness

means one lacks a work ethic, is not worried about details, is easily distracted, and does not

finish tasks. High neuroticism ratings show an out of control emotional spirit. In keeping with
this idea, Margaret Trudeau found herself easily addicted to drugs, alcohol, flights of fancy and

too reactive to others opinions about her and her situations. Being high in openness to

experience, Ms. Trudeau appreciates art, adventures, travels to foreign lands, and loves to try

new things.

Character Analysis

The Margaret Trudeau we have come to know and love was a young,

outgoing, and friendly flower-child, chosen by Prime Minister Trudeau as his

wife. Her vivaciousness, energy, and youth attracted this single minded man

almost 30 years her senior. She grew up in stark contrast to his staid

upbringing. With four sisters and cousins within a family that did everything

together, Margaret Trudeau never lacked for the warmth and generosity of

others that she craved. She was never alone in childhood or her teens or

throughout adult life. However, she chose to hide away from others,

including her family and friends, at times of deep depression. Her greatest

agony was accompanying her husband to big cities where the actions was

non-stop, the people numerous and large crowds talking politics. Instead Ms.

Trudeau preferred a destination which was smaller and more tranquil

(Trudeau, 1979, p. 156).

Upon marrying Pierre Trudeau, after the honeymoon stage, she began to feel closed

away in a tower (Trudeau, 2010, p. 64). With all of her husbands colleagues wives decades

older than herself, and her friends and family feeling discouraged from visiting because of the

procedures to enter 24 Sussex, she felt alone and isolated. As the First Lady she yearned for the
base of support she once had (Gregg, 2011, 5:45), she found herself

becoming more caged in. Perhaps, things have been different if she had

pushed herself harder to keep the companionship of her family and friends

while ensconced at her new residence.

In her youth, Ms. Trudeau was a spirited and willful child, her mother considering her

the most selfish of the family (Trudeau, 1979, p. 9). There were not many incidents that

indicate a high level of agreeableness in the youngster. Young Margaret Sinclair did cooperate

on one level and that was to be her fathers son, the boy he never had (Trudeau, 1979, p. 9).

Cooperation may not have been one of Trudeaus finer subsets of her personality when she

drunk it all inthe music, the drugs, the life (Trudeau, 1979, p. 17). Meaning the free love

movement so prevalent in the late sixties

Contrary to her mothers label of selfishness, Ms. Trudeau honed her altruistic leanings

during her political activism days at university in the late sixties. She exclaims, I railed against

poverty and injustice[and] sad spectacles plunged me into excessive misery; excitement fired

me to great heights (Trudeau, 2010, p. 21). Further evidence of altruism is her recent work with

WaterCan, of which she is Honourary President. In a recent interview with Gregg in 2011 she

shares [I] kept on with my WaterCan work...helping where the suffering is even greater than

mine (22:45 minutes). Volunteering with such projects is not new. Ms. Trudeau, in late 1976

campaigned with Barbara Ward for clean water (Trudeau, 1979, p. 214).

In her youth, Ms. Trudeau seems to have had to fight to get attention. There was,

probably, not enough time for her to think of causes to support until she was older. Ms. Trudeau

was a woman of extremes and passions. Whether she adapted herself agreeably to become her
fathers son, or experimenting, or in regards to her humanitarian work she was always

passionate and committed.

When Margaret was just sixteen she had decided her future would include writing

stories as a foreign correspondent, perhaps, or travelling the world as an ambassador (Trudeau,

2010, p. 19). These words would become both, prophetic and far reaching. Ms. Trudeau, as the

wife of Pierre Trudeau was called to the duty of get[ting] it perfect by Prince Phillip (Trudeau,

1979, pp. 128-9). These words, already in her psyche, were her standby as she redecorated her

new home, re-did the menus or mothered her children. Ms. Trudeau went on to author three

memoirs: Beyond Reason (1979), Consequences (1982), and Changing My Mind (2010). In

addition to her work with WaterCan (http://www.watercan.com/whoweare/trudeau.htm), she is a

professional photographer, sits on the Executive Advisory Board of the UBC Mental Health

Institute as a community advocate, and is the recipient of the Society of Biological Psychiatry

Humanitarian Award (Speakers Spotlight, 2013). Evidently, Ms. Trudeau was and still is a very

industrious woman. She has travelled the world as not only an ambassador of goodwill, but as

our First Lady. However, at times, she was unable to resist temptations. It could be that while in

her manic and depressed periods she was irresponsible instead of conscientious. Margaret

Trudeau is an industrious woman when emotionally well.

As a young child, Margaret Trudeau was often capricious, and temperamental, quick to

laugh, even quicker to feel despair; prone to flailing my arms, pouting and crying when things

didnt go [her] way (Trudeau, 2010. p. 1). Not surprisingly, the stresses of married life as a

prime ministers wife, not to mention the differences in herself and Pierre Trudeaus

temperaments caused her to become nervous, jittery, unpredictable[with] feelings of acute

tension (Trudeau, 1979, p. 214). Kim et als study suggests patients with bipolar disorder, who
suffer several episodes with increasing intensities score very high on the neuroticism scale as

compared to the normal population. In addition, as the number of episodes increases, one scores

higher on the Neuroticism scale (2012).

Due to Ms. Trudeaus youthful exuberance as a child, she enjoyed time exploring her

world. Whether this was discovering her love of sewing and creating clothes for herself, or going

to the cabin, High Hopes, and having adventuresshe relished it all! McCrae and Costa

discovered that those high in openness to experience tend to be creative and to value aesthetic

and intellectual pursuits, and because they seek a wide range of experience, they may be artists

or writers [or photographers]. (cited in Friedman & Schustack, 2012, p. 267). Pierre Trudeau is

quoted as saying, as soon as she wants to have a life of her own, whether its a photographer, or

as a writer or just a bohemian traveler, then she sort of falls into the news, and people photograph

her. So, in a sense its when she wants to live her life freely that she is no longer private (Adams

& Cosgrove, 1977). Even as Ms. Sinclair travelled overseas, after finishing her

degree she was surrounded by others as she wandered from one hippie

commune to another (Trudeau, 2010, p. 29), seemingly unaware how risky

her sociable nature was. It seems Margaret Trudeau cherished her freedom

most of all; freedom to create, to explore, and to make mistakes. It is

possible that her bipolar disorder was saturated with herculean opportunities

with which to operate on, considering her global presence at such a young

age.

Birth Order Perspective

Theory Overview
 Alfred Adlers theory of birth order defines the first born as independent, dethroned

once another sibling comes along and then put in the role of helping to care for the newcomer

(Friedman & Schustack, 2012, p. 117). McCarron adds, failure to navigate the dethronement

successfully will have lifelong consequences (McCarron, 2013, Unit 4, p. 3). Others are

second-born who rush in to rival their counterpart. Their chance of succeeding the eldest in

adulthood is a real possibility (McCarron, 2013, Unit 4, p. 3). Only children, are as likely as the

youngest to be spoiled though maybe not coddled as much (McCarron, 2013, Unit 4, p. 3).

McCarron expands further by suggesting that the spoiled male child may suffer from socially

out-casting his father so that he, the male child, can have his mothers attentions (2013, Unit 4,

p.3). Friedman and Schustack point out that last born children continue to be the baby of the

family while McCarron adds they are most likely to be spoiled and coddled by their parents

(2013, Unit 4, p.3). In 2012, Friedman and Schustack state that later-borns may be more likely

to be creative, rebellious, [support] revolutionary [viewpoints], or avant-garde (p. 117-8).

Character Analysis

Ms. Trudeau was born after three elder sisters, being four years old and used to being

the baby myself when her sister Betsy was brought home (Trudeau, 1979, p. 5). Margaret

Trudeaus sisters became successful in their own rights. One became a respected professor at the

University of British Columbia, another specialized in nuclear medicine, and still another

became a nurse and hospital administrator. Ms. Trudeau says my calling card read: Margaret

Trudeau photographer (Trudeau, 2010). This confirms another of Adlers beliefs of later born

children, that the overabundance of sibling role models might lead this child to feel overly

pressured to succeed in all areas, and the likely inability to do so might result in a lazy and

defeatist attitude (Friedman & Schustack, 2012, p. 117).

 Ms. Trudeau brought new and progressive ideas into delivery rooms of Ottawa by

insisting that her husband be present for the birth of their first son. She was able to convince the

hospitals to change their policy in this regard (Trudeau, 2010, p. 81). Margaret Trudeau, also,

made a bold choice to professionally photograph humanitarian causes which was avant garde for

the time.

Supporting McGuirk and Pettijohn IIs assertions that laterborns would report the most

jealousy, behind that of middle children (2008, p. 38); while dating Pierre Trudeau, his future

wife suggested that he date other women, but I was furious and jealous when he did so

(Trudeau, 2010, p. 53). Pierre, on the other hand, had much to concern himself about.

Thankfully, he finally recognized that there was something wrong (Trudeau, 2010, p. 115).

Biological Perspective

Theory Overview

The biological theories are too numerous to mention within the confines of this essay,

therefore this essay will focus on the ones that apply to the subject matter. These will include

Hippocrates melancholic, the effects from illegal drugs, the creation of new environments

(becoming a wife, a First Lady, and a mother in a very short time), the genetic link to bipolar

disorder, and the experience of postpartum depression. Eysencks nervous system temperament,

Carver and Whites fun seeking behavioural activation system, high/low resilience, W. H.

Sheldons somatotypes, bipolar disorder which is influenced by environment, especially

particularly numerous stressful events, more than biological, which seems to have genetic

underpinnings (Friedman & Schustack, 2012, p. 162) and her physical attractiveness will be
reviewed. A few of Franz Joseph Galls phrenological traits will be covered as well, such as

language, vivativeness, agreeableness, conscientiousness and amativeness.

Character Analysis

Ms. Trudeau is a woman who is both beautiful and intelligent, who

continues to attract the attention of admirers. In her youth, Margaret Trudeau

was considered the prettiest of her siblings (Trudeau, 1979. p. 12). She has been desired

by influential celebrities and public figures. It takes a strong woman to

repeatedly move between Kretchmers somatotypes; an ectomorph, slender

though not the bookworm type as described by Friedman and Schustack,

(2012, p. 173) but rather wild and out of control, while in her manic states;

and when depression settled in she transformed into an endomorph,

however, without the good nature.

Hippocrates was one of the first academics to publish his humours

theory. The four humours are comprised of blood, phlegm, yellow bile and

black bile (McCarron, 2013, Unit 7, p. 3). Margaret Trudeau recognizes

Hippocrates theory concerning her illness as melancholia (Trudeau, 2010. p. 4),

which is the state she claims to have been in 80% of the time (Gregg, 2011, 3:10 minutes). The

remaining 20% of she found her best antidote to depression was the adrenaline of love and

being pregnant (Trudeau, 2010, p. 177). This love Ms. Trudeau talked of was not natural, but

manic. There is no doubt that Ms. Trudeaus repeated use of marijuana to self-medicate

contributed to her periods of reckless madness (Trudeau, 2010, p. 262). Whomever Margaret

Trudeau got involved with, be he Jack Nicholson, Ted Kennedy or Ron Wood, she became totally
consumed and gave of herself fully and, according to McQuirk and Pettijohn those in manic

states [have] a strong need for attention and affection that [is] insatiable (2008, p. 40). It was

after the birth of her second child that she experienced her first bought of depression, known as

postpartum depression (Gregg, 2011, 7:05 minutes). This low point was a result of low

sensitivity to BAS. Ms. Trudeaus rises to mania are a result of high sensitivity to BAS

(McCarron, 2013, Unit 7, p.4).

Genetic effects that are believed to be biological in nature concern

individuality; an example is whether one is actively energetic in finding out

about their world (Friedman & Schustack, 2012, p. 148-9), as was the nature

of Ms. Trudeau throughout her life. Eysencks model of nervous system

temperament found that neurotic people have a very reactive nervous

system (Friedman & Schustack, 2012, p. 151). Evidence of this is when Ms.

Trudeau went into a manic state when she would feel like she had a

thousand-volt charge surging through my head (Trudeau, 2010, p. 231), also

feeling the pressure building up to the point where it would explode hurting

herself and others in its recklessness (Trudeau, 2010, p.174). Times such as

these saw her fly off to France, jet to New York, or migrate home to her

family in British Columbia, where her mother discouraged her from seeking

help because she was afraid of being blamed for her daughters illness

(Trudeau, 2010, p. 97).

Trudeaus mother was not alone in this backward thinking. Friedman

and Schustack acknowledge that up until the 60s, most psychologists and

psychiatrists believed that [bipolar disorder] was caused by bad parenting

(2012, p. 161). Robert Cloninger built on Grays reinforcement sensitivity

theory expanding it to a tridimensional model of approach and avoidance

systems, namely reward dependence, harm avoidance, and novelty seeking

(Carron, 2013, Unit 7, p. 4). The bipolar disorder is a genetic influence that

can run in families. Studies of identical twins have found a strong familial

link to sharing psychological temperaments and psychological disorders.

Margaret Trudeau recognized generational influence may play a role in her

disorder, but she says Ill never knowI only know that my mother was

alone much of the time and worried much of the time (Trudeau, 2010. P.

11). When in the throes of manic episodes her dopamine levels were

extremely high causing Ms. Trudeau to do things she would not have done

otherwise and caused embarrassment to herself and others around her.

When the pendulum swung to the other side, causing her to sink into depths

of despair, medications such as lithium, Prozac (SSRI), olanzapine (SSRI),

risperidone (an anti-psychotic) brought Ms. Trudeau and her dopamine levels

to a degree of equilibrium (Trudeau, 2010, various sections throughout the

book).

The latter drug, risperidone, was necessitated because when

previously medicated on the former prescriptions she laments (bi-polar)

drugs put a mask on my creativity, my sparkif this is normal? she said

when heavily medicated for her illness, I do not want it (Gregg, 2011. 5:00

minutes). Finding an appropriate drug to bring down her dopamine levels to

a normal range was a frustrating journey. Discovering risperidone has given

her some semblance of the normalcy she was seeking. Even Margaret

Trudeau with all the zest for life she is known for in her public persona, has,

like many other sufferers of bipolar disorder, fallen despondent. At times she

was, almost, passively willing to cede to life the easiest way, using her

inability to swallow as her means to escape. With much more to live for, she,

with the help of professionals, friends, family, and medication, was able to

pull through to accept that, though, she was born bipolar (Trudeau, 2010,

inside front book jacket) she could live a rich life alongside it.

Discussion

Margaret Trudeau, though, high on the extraversion scale, abhorred

crowds and strangers. She enjoyed having others around her, but preferred

close friends and family. Ms. Trudeaus struggle to merge her roles as wife,

mother and spouse of the Prime Minister meant juggling roles she was

unskilled at. Complicating this was the criticism of the masses. She was not

able to meet the expectations of her husband, the media, his countrymen,

other world leaders and their wives, and, especially, herself. The disparity

between her private self and her public persona was an abyss. Margaret

Trudeaus resilience was very low at this time. Unable to bridge the gap, her

mind weakened and sent her on a roller coaster ride of mania and depression

starting once her second son was born. With her behavioural activation

system in full swing she found herself, increasingly, in embarrassing

situations, only to sink to very low levels of despair regretting what she knew

she should not have done. However, when she allowed others to help her
she showed us a more composed and natural part of her individuality. Ms.

Trudeau is an uncomplicated woman living a complicated life.

The findings within the dispositional perspectives help us to see the

outer self of Margaret Trudeau, whereas, the biological perspectives delve

much deeper, to the vulnerable inner workings of the mind. While birth

order is limiting in the information and comparisons to Ms. Trudeaus

personality, it did shed light on attributing her with artistic appreciation,

rebelliousness, revolutionary tendencies and a willingness to try new things.

However, both the dispositional and biological perspectives provided a

wealth of information to analyze Ms. Trudeau. Margaret Trudeaus

personality is more fully addressed in the latter perspectives. In comparing

the dispositional perspective with the biological I found they complemented

one another, as did the birth order. As a result the combination of multiple

perspectives affords us an opportunity to visualize many facets of Margaret

Trudeau. Conversely, focusing on just one facet of personality is a disservice

to those of whom we are analyzing. Will this strong resilient woman,

volunteer, mother and grandmother continue to move forward on her

journey to continue the good works within her? It will be interesting to follow

Ms. Trudeaus life, even now, as she is surrounded by grandchildren and is

supported in her WaterCan work by her eldest sons wife Sophie Grgoire

(http://www.watercan.com/supporters/specialfriends.htm).
 Conclusion

The difficulties in Margaret Trudeaus life appear to be multifaceted in

nature. The journey to recovery for Ms. Trudeau involved admitting there is a

problem beyond her own ability to manage it. With a combination of those

that love her, psychotherapy and medications, suitable to her biological

makeup, Ms. Trudeau has been able to progress through stages from

recognition to accepting the debilitating psychiatric illness that shadows her.

This gracious and resilient woman finally accepts the diagnosis that I was

born bipolar (Trudeau, 2010). Through Margaret Trudeaus ability to express

herself in her own words we, the readers, are more aware of the scope and

breadth of bipolar disorder, and more appreciative of the effort to manage it

in a healthy and productive way.

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