Because she's so new to the political scene, we don't know much about Sarah Palin. But what we have seen is more than a little disturbing. Is it possible that she's more than an extreme right-wing politician? Could she actually have a mental defect, like narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)?
I'm not a psychologist, so take this for what it's worth.
Psych Central, the online resource created and run by mental health professionals, describes the symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder thusly:
A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
(1) has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
(2) is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
(3) 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)
(4) requires excessive admiration
(5) has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations
(6) is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
(7) lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others
(8) is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her
(9) shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes
So, let's take a closer look.
Grandiose sense of self-importance. Check. Any normal person with her lack of experience and complete ignorance of important national issues would certainly have paused before accepting the nomination of a major party for vice president. She never blinked, by her own admission. Wow.
Preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, etc. Check. Long before she was nominated for vice president, she told friends she wanted to be president.
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). Check. Christian fundamentalism, Wasilla Assembly of God.
Requires excessive admiration. Unclear.
Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations. Unclear.
Is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends. Check. Stepping on every person in her political life who gave her a helping hand, exploiting her children at the convention, forcing her daughter into what could well be a loveless marriage, etc.
Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others. Check. Rape kits in Wasilla, response to Joe Biden at the debate when he talked about losing his wife and daughter.
Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her. Unclear, although from her earliest days as an elected official, she seems to have resented those with a superior education.
Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes. Check, through her pattern of vindictiveness toward perceived enemies.
That's six check marks on Psych Central's list, enough to earn her the diagnosis. And that's just based on what limited knowledge we have of her. I could be very wrong, but it seems to me that the signs are here. I'd be very interested in hearing from any psycholgists or psychiatrists about whether they think Sarah Palin has narcissistic personality disorder, or might have.
UPDATE: Several readers have taken issue with this diary, accusing me of Frist-inism. So let me be very clear: I am NOT a mental health professional. The only point of this diary was to raise this possibility, provoke discussion, and solicit thoughts from people who are experts. Thanks.