Look at the definition of Narcissistic Personality Disorder:

“Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a Cluster B personality disorder[1] in which a person is excessively preoccupied with personal adequacy, power, prestige and vanity, mentally unable to see the destructive damage they are causing to themselves and to others in the process. It is estimated that this condition affects one percent of the population.[2][3] First formulated in 1968, NPD was historically called megalomania, and is a form of severe egocentrism.[4]”
from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is the basic foundation of Psychopathy. One can have NPD without being a psychopath but one can’t have psychopathy without already being a pathological narcissist.

We once hunted wooly mammoths, spent our days gathering roots and nuts and seeds to survive to the next day, the next week, fought animals and warring tribes for scarce resources. Sure, there were always those who were gentle, dependent, sensitive souls, those who were self defeating, enjoyed being looked after, had to be prompted or carried. And a tribe would not survive if it had too many of these. There were always those who craved recognition or attention, aligning themselves to the leaders.

There are 16 main personality traits.

Some of us will not have the self confident, inventive, aggressive, adventurous, or dramatic traits, the extremes of which are

Narcissistic,

Compensatory Narcissistic,

Sadistic,

Antisocial,

Histrionic,

personality disorders. But its a roll of the dice.

Even the Vigilant, the extreme of which is Paranoid Personality Disorder

are built for facing challenge, striving for power, specialness, recognition and attention and feel lost without one or the other of these things.

Those with these personality traits are in various ways built for survival, and for challenge, and for struggle… jihad if you like. These are natural drives for them. So natural that if they have enough food, shelter, sleep, sex, contacts, and do not have to rise to challenge and struggle in some way every now and then regardless of our privilege they become bored, feel purposeless, become lazy, apathetic, self medicate, lose themselves in their addictions, or stir up dramas, exaggerate their misfortunes, fixate on their traumas, hone some sense of ‘other’ or ‘enemy’ to arouse their drive for survival, for challenge, for struggle. Yes, war machines.

Sometimes we imprison them, sometimes we vote for them, sometimes we watch them on cinema screens, or we find them in the news where they have shot another classroom of children, gunned down the attendees of another tourism spot, taken another group of hostages in a cafe.

Personality Disordered people feel alienated, misunderstood, demonised, alone… unless they find their own kind… like minded individuals with the same needs, willing to join in the same deeds. They form groups, make flags, develop mantras and pledge to philosophies and beliefs. They will do whatever it takes to establish a sense of their own legitimacy… even if it means feigning charity, claiming to be ‘keeping the peace’ or hijacking a religion.

If we made it overt we were dealing with PERSONALITY DISORDERS

Personality disorders are a class of mental disorders characterized by enduring maladaptive patterns of behavior, cognition, and inner experience, exhibited across many contexts and deviating markedly from those accepted by the individual’s culture. These patterns develop early, are inflexible, and are associated with significant distress or disability.[1] The definitions may vary somewhat, according to source.[2][3]
from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personality_disorder

married to GROUP THINK

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people, in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. Group members try to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision without critical evaluation of alternative viewpoints, by actively suppressing dissenting viewpoints, and by isolating themselves from outside influences.
from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthink

then those doing this could see an image of themselves in the context of mental health… they may not like that image, but it is probably the only thing that may help them counter identify with having pushed and pushed and pushed their personality traits into personality disorders. Maybe, just maybe, they may progressively come back from the edge. But for our governments and leaders to take this direction they’d have to look themselves in the mirror and many would not like what they saw.

When it comes to personality disorders, sometimes less is more. It’s a matter of balance, and being more enticed by the promise of balance than the promise of progressive extremity.

Donna Williams, BA Hons, Dip Ed.
Author, artist, singer-songwriter, screenwriter.
Autism consultant and public speaker.
http://www.donnawilliams.net

I acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Owners of this country throughout Australia, and their connection to land and community.