Trump on the Couch

[_Res Ipsa]

Gunnar, Jersey Girl was asking about the source of narcisstic supply, not his narcissism. I think one could make the case that the public who attends his rallies is a source of his supply. Maybe even his public detractors (I’m so great that many people are jealous of me).

[_Jersey Girl]

Gunnar I have two questions.

1. What are his sources for the absence of a strong maternal force?

2. Are we (the public) the primary source of Trump's narcissistic supply?

1. The sources of the absence of a strong maternal force, according to Dr. Frank, seem to be statements from Trump's childhood friends, neighbors and household servants. More details can be found on that mainly in chapter one of his book titled MOTHER, but also interspersed through the rest of the book.

Will you share a sample anecdote about that? It doesn't matter which type of source you choose.

2. I don't think that we (the public) are the primary source of Trump's narcissism. He was apparently a narcissist long before he became famous.

I was asking about whether or not the author posits that the public is his source of narcissistic supply.

I know that narcissism develops in early childhood. It's the result of emotional neglect and abuse in a child's primary relationships. I don't know why anyone would find child development a fascinating study. ;-)

Of course any praise or adulation he receives from the public certainly feeds that narcissism.

Gunnar it would also be the negative blowback he receives from others. For example, his ability to stir up controversy and make people basically hate him. That, too, is a type of narcissistic supply.

[_Jersey Girl]

Gunnar, Jersey Girl was asking about the source of narcisstic supply, not his narcissism. I think one could make the case that the public who attends his rallies is a source of his supply. Maybe even his public detractors (I’m so great that many people are jealous of me).

No question about it, his rallies feed his narcissism. Likewise his detractors. Think of a narcissist as a type of provocateur. Whenever he provokes a response (negative or positive) he receives supply.

Think of him as an emotional vampire who lives off the emotional reactions of others. He's an emotional parasite.

Example: The man rises on or around 4 a.m. each day, puts a phone in his hand and Tweets out a series of invective or brag tweets. He takes a supply hit off the reactions he gets.

He has a narcissists dream job.

[_Res Ipsa]

Gunnar, Jersey Girl was asking about the source of narcisstic supply, not his narcissism. I think one could make the case that the public who attends his rallies is a source of his supply. Maybe even his public detractors (I’m so great that many people are jealous of me).

No question about it, his rallies feed his narcissism. Likewise his detractors. Think of a narcissist as a type of provocateur. Whenever he provokes a response (negative or positive) he receives supply.

Think of him as an emotional vampire who lives off the emotional reactions of others. He's an emotional parasite.

Example: The man rises on or around 4 a.m. each day, puts a phone in his hand and Tweets out a series of invective or brag tweets. He takes a supply hit off the reactions he gets.

He has a narcissists dream job.

Thanks. I hadn't thought about the effect of the negative feedback before and wasn't sure it could provide the supply.

[_Jersey Girl]

Thanks. I hadn't thought about the effect of the negative feedback before and wasn't sure it could provide the supply.

Negative reactions (I don't think of it as feedback, but ok) would definitely provide supply.

The idealization/devaluation/discard phases of a narcissist's relationship with another person would tend to bear that out. I think that any behavior that draws a strong emotional reaction from others provides supply.

Think about how he handles firing staff. One minute they're god's gift, the next they're POS, and out they go. He discarded Tillerson in full public view on Twitter.

He hires the best people. Until they're not.

Every time he tweets he gets supply be it positive or negative, it's still supply. It shows him how powerful he is, how relevant he is, and that he exists. When in actual truth, he's simply a hollow shell who fills himself up on the emotions of others.

He's like a tick.

[_Jersey Girl]

RI think about narcissists who murder. They get supply from committing the act.

There she goes again. ;-)

[_Res Ipsa]

Trump as a tick is an image I won’t be able to unsee.

[_Jersey Girl]

Trump as a tick is an image I won’t be able to unsee.

That was purely intentional on my part.

[_Jersey Girl]

Omg! Google that up on images! Trump as a tick.

I just did it!



ETA: Well okay, the memes are calling him luna tick and leech, but still.

[_Res Ipsa]

Omg! Google that up on images! Trump as a tick.

I just did it!



ETA: Well okay, the memes are calling him luna tick and leech, but still.

No!! You can’t make me look!!