The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV (DSM IV) from the American Psychiatric Association Asociation gives the criteria for qualifying as being psychiatrically ill. This standard is used by insurance companies to pay benefits and by researchers to find out why the illnesses occur and how to cure them (if possible.) Please apply thse criteiral to G. W. Bush. Doeas he meet the requirments to be diagnosed as having a Narsissistic Personality Disorder?
Let me list the criteria. There are nine criteria, and if a person meets five items, they are suffering from NPD.
Here are the criteria:
- has a grandiose sense of self importantce (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talants, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements.)
- is preoccupied with fantasises of unlimited success,power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.
- 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 (or institutions.)
- Requires excessive admirantion.
- has a sense of entitlement. i.e. unreasonable expectations of especailly favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his expectations.
- is interpersonally exploitative, i.e. takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends.
- lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings or needs of others.
- is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him.
- shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.
According to the standard, one suffers from a Narssistic Personality Disorder if he or she meets five or more of the above criteria. But his standard is applied after a personal interview.
I don’t think we can tell about criteria 8 through the media. Similarly, some of the criteria might or might not apply based on the way Bush is presented in the media. So I am going to ask if people think he meets four of the nine criteria in your opinion. If he does, then I think he suffers from NPD.
Tell me what you think. If you answer five or above, please explain. Sinmilarly if you don’t think he neets at least four of the criteia, please explain why not.
Remember, this is a question about whether he meets the criteria. Not about why or why not