Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment trial starts next week. But the Governor plans to boycott it. It’s not fair to criticize him. He’s above it all. He can sell a Senate seat if he wants to! Rules don’t apply to him. He makes the rules!
If you know somebody who behaves like Blagojevich does, you may know a victim of a personality disorder. In particular, you may know a victim of Narcissistic Personality Disorder [1], also commonly known as NPD.
Recent press coverage in Illinois is suggesting that Blagojevich may have Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Reports point to bizarre behaviors about him grabbing telephones from strangers and saying “this is the governor”, rages against employees for minor issues such as not having his favorite hairbrush available for his immediate use, and brushing off news of a family member’s stroke to immediately switch to discussing getting the saddened family to donate money to his political campaign.
NPD is one of four related personality disorders known as the DSM-IV Axis II Cluster B personality disorders. These are “dramatic” personality disorders, typically involving extreme emotional behaviors. The other three are Borderline Personality Disorder [2], Antisocial Personality Disorder [3], and Histrionic Personality Disorder [4]. Those afflicted with any of the four cluster B personality disorders tend to show lack of empathy for others, putting down others and/or pumping up one’s own self-image via exaggerations, frequent lying and distortions, belief of being above the rules of society and social norms, and often a preoccupation with portraying oneself as a victim and others as abusers using those lies and distortions.
A recent study indicates that NPD is commonly co-morbid with Borderline Personality Disorder and Schizotypal Personality Disorder. See for our article Study Finds High Correlation of BPD, NPD, and Schizotypal Personality Disorder [5] for more information.
Further reading:
Blagojevich not crazy, experts say, but he may have narcissistic personality disorder [6]
Blagojevich Impeachment Trial Underway As Governor Takes Case To Media [7]
Blagojevich’s Brazenness Stuns Even Hardened Chicago Politicos [8]
3 Comments To "Illinois Governor may have Narcissistic Personality Disorder?"
#1 Comment By Yvonne On January 27, 2009 @ 4:03 pm
Hello. Please read the post I wrote long before Blago and NPD was discussed. Nice post.
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#2 Pingback By Governor Blagojevich Removed from Office | angiemedia On January 29, 2009 @ 7:15 pm
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#3 Pingback By Narcissistic On February 2, 2009 @ 4:10 pm
[…] Illinois Governor may have Narcissistic Personality Disorder … (angiemedia.com) – January 26, 2009Recent press coverage in Illinois is suggesting that Blagojevich may have Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Reports point to bizarre behaviors about him grabbing telephones from strangers and saying… […]