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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@mcn.org
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October 2,
2002
Uri Avnery
Manufacturing
Anti-Semites
October 1,
2002
Benjamin Shepard
On the
Road Again:
IMF/World Bank Protest
Reveal a Revived
Movement for Global Justice
Dr. Susan
Block
Cockfight
at the
Baghdad Corral
Krystal Kyer
Growing Union Opposition
to War
Ron Jacobs
Born Without a Spine
Scott Loughrey
Mysteries
of 9/11
Jeremy Brecher
Collective
Security is Working
Brenda Norrell
Troy
Black Feather on
the American Flag
Sam Bahour
Wake Up
and Smell
the Occupation
Richard Harth
Contrary
to Reason:
Adieu, Hitchens, Adieu
Carol Norris
Rumsfeld
the Surrealist:
Things Related and Not
Ben Tripp
Lists Upon
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30, 2002
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