Hegseth, the disrespectful somatic narcissist, By Hal M. Brown

 

The photo of Pete Hegseth wearing a bathing suit after being in a swim event across the Hudson River is making the rounds on social and regular media. He has a large American flag over his shoulder. In addition to wearing the bathing suit, his displaying the flag is begging for people to pay attention to him. It all says "look at me, I am buff and I am beautiful."

How disrespectful is this? Almost 3,000 people died at this site and he's there in a bathing suit suit.

Consider the public reaction if a buxom Democrat showed up there dressed in a flag version of a bikini.

Hegseth is a somatic narcissist. Here's an article about this.

Excerpt:

A somatic narcissist uses their body and the physical space around them as a way to express their narcissism. 

Their superiority and sense of entitlement come from their perception of their physical self. 

They believe they are more beautiful, stronger, or fitter than others. Flaunting their bodies, flex their muscles, and brag about the number of times people hit on them is typical behavior.

Heres another article: 14 Traits of a Somatic Narcissist

This section seems to apply Hegseth and people like RFK Jr. and Marjorie Taylor Greene who are also somatic narcissists:

One common trait of somatic narcissists is their tendency to boast about their fitness routines. They often highlight their achievements in the gym, emphasizing their physical strength and endurance.

These individuals may frequently share photos and updates about their workouts on social media. This constant broadcasting serves to draw attention to their dedication and physical attributes.

Somatic narcissists might also compare their fitness levels to others, often implying superiority. They take pride in being perceived as more disciplined and fit.

Conversations with these individuals can often be dominated by tales of their exercise regimes, diet plans, and physical feats. Compliments about their fitness are not just welcomed but actively sought.

This behavior reflects their need for admiration and validation through their physical appearance. The need to feel superior physically drives them to continuously seek acknowledgment for their efforts in fitness.

I'd have to know more about Hegseth to see if I thought the following applied to him: 

Somatic narcissists are often known for their superficial charm. They use their physical appearance and charisma to win people over quickly.

Their charm can be captivating, drawing others in easily. This facade helps them mask their true intentions and manipulate those around them.

They often employ compliments and flattery as key tools. This creates an illusion of genuine interest and warmth.

Behind this charming exterior, the primary goal is self-serving. They seek admiration and attention, rather than meaningful connections.

This charm can be particularly effective in social and professional settings. It helps them gain influence and control over others.

Their appearance plays a crucial role here. They invest significant time and effort into maintaining an attractive and impressive look.

Their charm is typically shallow and lacks depth. Once their goals are achieved, their interest in the person often diminishes.

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Trump Cabinet Picks: Manic Machiavellian megalomaniac runs amok, by Hal M. Brown, MSW

Let me lean back this morning and light up my metaphorical Freudian cigar and try to burn back a few layers of the multiple layers that encircle the inner core of Donald Trump which fuel his nuclear reactor of a mind.

So far we have three Trump Cabinet picks that have caused pundits to speculate why Trump would select three uniquely unqualified people to serve in positions vitally important to the security of the country. 

When you consider that Pete Hegesth for Secretary of Defense is the least bad of the three (Update: Although as new information comes out you have to reassess him - read here) you have to wonder who could be worse than he is. Who is the second worst? That would be the nominee for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard who repeated Russian propaganda about Ukraine housing U.S.-funded bioweapons labs. Then we get to the top of the bottom and it is a mind blower, Matt Gaetz for Attorney General. (Update: We have just found out that even though she was on the plane with him when he made the selection Susie Wiles was not aware that he was going to do this. Read story)

There is well deserved hand wringing among Republican members of Congress over these choices. They bought it, Trump broke it, but they have to own it. Think of a sign in a pottery store: "If the owner breaks it, sorry sucker, you have to buy it."

Among the punditry there is speculation as to why Trump would have picked these people. I've heard some MSNBC panelists suggest this may have been a tactic on Trump's part so he would have one or more of them not get confirmed by the Senate to make way for a more qualifed person who would turn out to be just as bad  but more effective at being bad.

I propose that Trump's motivation was not strategic. I think he is in a manic state and wants to lash out at all of his critics. John Bolton said it well:

"I thought [Gabbard] was the worst Cabinet-level appointment in history until I heard the Matt Gaetz appointment," Bolton said. "Really, my reaction was that this is like the legend of Caligula, the Roman emperor who wanted to nominate his horse as a Roman consul. You had to be a Roman senator at the time to be a consul, and it was intended to show how demeaned and degraded the Roman Senate had become. RawStory

Trump is not just riding high on his victory. My assessment is that he is in a manic state. He feels he can do anything.

He's always been a megalomaniac. By "always" I don't mean just as an adult. 

A strict Freudian interpretation of Trump's megalomania is that he never fully resolved a normal stage of psychological development. Freud and Freudians believe that at a young age children go though a phase when they feel omnipotent. They believe that a "child lives in a sort of megalomania for a long period; he knows only one yardstick, and that is his own over-inflated ego ... megalomania, it must be understood, is normal in the very young child". (Wikipedia)

In normal psychosocial development children pass through the various phases or stages but some have portions of their personality fixated, or stuck, at some stages for reasons having to do with family dynamics too complex to go into here.

For more information read 

Freud’s Psychosexual Theory And 5 Stages Of Human Development

Here's an illustration from that article:

Click above to enlarge

In the above chart you can see how partial fixations in each phase can lead to characteristics we see in Tump.

Add to all of the above is that Trump is a psychopath. This is how psychoanalyst Dr. Justin Frank puts it in the Chauncey DeVega Salon article: 

"Criminal labels and orange jumpsuits": Experts on how Trump weaponizes his own fears.

Lacking a conscience or morality to limit his sadism, and believing in his worth above all others, leads Trump to think he has the right to destroy anyone who does not submit to him. Without the innate capacity for empathy toward others and a sense of right and wrong, Trump is an extreme outlier in human psychology.

DeVega himself wrote:

It is true that Donald Trump is a pathological liar. But he has been remarkably honest and transparent in his desires and plans to become America's first dictator and unleash a reign of revenge and tyranny.

The only way to understand Trump and what he does is to understand that the why. The only way to understand the why is to realize that Trump has a personality that fits what is called the Dark Triad. 

Wikipedia describes the dark triad as:

All three dark triad traits are conceptually distinct although empirical evidence shows them to be overlapping. They are associated with a callous-manipulative interpersonal style.

.

• Narcissismis characterized by grandiosity, pride, egotism, and a lack of empathy.
• Machiavellianism is characterized by manipulationand exploitation of others, a cynical disregard for morality, and a focus on self-interestand deception.
• Psychopathy is characterized by continuing antisocial behavior, impulsivity, selfishness, callousness, and remorselessness.

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