What Are the Warning Signs?

I asked AI to describe a sociopath. I won’t bore you with their lengthy response, but my takeaway was that such a person would be:

1. Dismissive of the rights of others, social norms, and the law,

2. Impulsive and emotionally volatile,

3. Unable to maintain long-term relationships,

4. Unpredictable and their behavior often results in aggression or irritability,

5. A frequent liar,

6. Likely to con others for personal gain,

7. Impulsive and fail to plan ahead,

8. Unremorseful when hurting, mistreating or stealing from others,

9. Volatile, often with verbal outbursts,

10. Dishonest with regard to financial obligations,

11. Dismissive of the safety of others,

12. A flatterer in order to manipulate others for personal gain.

If you objectively read the above list, you will probably be able to find an example of someone who fits this description. To think that someone in such a position of great political power is a sociopath, should give us all pause.

Such individuals may appear to be effective leaders, as they are decisive and exhibit confidence. The consensus is that, in the short term, sociopaths’ adaptive qualities may help them ascend to power, but their leadership style is unsustainable in the long-term. They look good only so long as they get lucky in their decisions or can get away with dismissive explanations.

Their superficial charm can be seen as charismatic and persuasive, and their emotional detachment can be mistaken for “coolness under pressure.” The bottom line, however, is that they don’t care enough to be concerned. They are more enamored with short-term gains over the achievement of long-term benefits.

In the corporate world such individuals rule in a culture of fear, their constant lying erodes innovation, their businesses suffer high turnover, and their “win at all costs” attitude will lead to scandals, fraud, and problems with the law. Within this culture of fear, they will use bullying, gaslighting, and intimidation for control, leading to subordinate stress and burnout.

At the conclusion of the AI response it asked the question, “would you like to learn about the psychological difference between a sociopathic leader and a “dark triad” leader?” This is where it truly got scary.

The “dark triad” of personality disorders combines narcissism, Machiavellianism, and true psychopathic behavior. I doubt that even the MAGA crowd would disagree that the person we are all thinking of is a narcissist. He is in fine company with Hitler, Napoleon, Alexander the Great, Stalin, and King Louis XIV in that regard.

As to his Machiavellian skill set, I find him wanting. This requires long term political strategy and deception to consolidate power. While he doesn’t seem to possess the ability for long-term planning, I think others around him (say, Stephen Miller) have such a plan.

On the psychopathic front, this is a matter of degree. I think our “anonymous leader” lacks the ability to be a true psychopath. Psychopaths can maintain the facade of normalcy whereas sociopaths are impulsive, erratic, and hot-headed. Our unnamed leader seems to fall into this latter category as he can’t be bothered to fake empathy.

In a separate but related search I asked if sexual deviance is linked to either narcissism or sociopathy.

The AI response:

“Sexual deviance, particularly behaviors involving exploitation, aggression, and lack of empathy, is strongly linked to both narcissism and psychopathy/sociopathy. Research suggests these traits, often part of the "Dark Triad," predict a higher likelihood of engaging in coercive or non-normative sexual behaviors. Psychopathic traits, particularly the "antisocial" and "lifestyle" facets, are strongly associated with a wide range of deviant sexual interests. This includes high-risk sexual behaviors and a lack of emotional attachment, often driven by a low capacity for empathy.”

After much research and only one college-level course in abnormal psychology, my non-clinical diagnosis is that this “leader of the free world” is merely a narcissistic sociopath. As to his ephebophilia or sexual deviance, much of that evidence remains redacted in those pesky Epstein files. We don’t necessarily get the Dark Triad Trifecta, but we certainly win the Daily Double. Whew! Are you relieved?