One thing I am very sensitive to is claims by laymen of someone having a mental problem. I am the Great Aunt of an Asperger’s child. Another grandnephew had been diagnoses as ADHD. I was trapped in a marriage to someone who was diagnosed as bipolar schizophrenic. There have been a rash of comments about Mitt Romney and various lay diagnosis of mental illness. Based on my life experiences I want to examine those claims. Follow me below the squiggle for one woman’s take on this.
I have been fighting a difficult respiratory infection. I have C.O.P.D. and no healthcare benefits. I have to rely on over the counter and holistic medicine to try and take care of it. Unfortunately they aren’t doing a whole lot of good. The other evening my grandnephew, Tristen, walked the mile to my place because he was worried and wanted to take care of me. Tristen is 16 years old and has Asperger’s Syndrome. He made me hot tea that he had concocted. He checked out all of my computers to make sure they were secure because their computer was being hacked. He is our Tech Support person. Anything mechanical is his obsession. He gave me frequent hugs and told me he loved me. Does that sound like Mitt Romney? Romney is not an Aspie. Aspies have a great deal of empathy for others. Their problem is that in interaction with others they aren’t always sure what is socially correct. They can learn and Tristen is proof of it. Aspies will beat themselves up if they make a mistake in dealing with someone. They want very much to do everything correctly. They feel so deeply for others that they don’t want someone upset because of something they have said and done. Does that sound like Mitt Romney?
Mitt Romney is not ADHD, he is not bipolar, he is not Asperger’s Syndrome, and he is not schizophrenic. So what is he? Let us look at his actions. We know he has no empathy. We know he is a bully. We know he never had to work and struggle for anything. We know he treats animals inhumanely. We know he lies constantly. We know he feels entitled to be President.
He shows some of the behavior of a sociopath. Here are some of the characteristics of a sociopath according to this website.
· Glibness and Superficial Charm
· Manipulative and Conning
They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.
· Grandiose Sense of Self
Feels entitled to certain things as "their right."
· Pathological Lying
Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.
· Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.
· Shallow Emotions
When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.
· Incapacity for Love
· Need for Stimulation
Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common.
· Callousness/Lack of Empathy
Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.
· Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others.
· Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet "gets by" by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.
· Irresponsibility/Unreliability
Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.
· Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts.
· Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle
Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future, poor work ethic but exploits others effectively.
· Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily.
We see some of the characteristics but not all. The problem is that we just aren’t qualified to judge. We do not have degrees in psychology and have not treated Mitt Romney. So what can we say about Romney?
We can say he shows no empathy. We can say he is a spoiled rich boy who never had to work and struggle in his life. We can say he lies constantly. We can say he is cruel to animals. We can say he is a bully. We can say he has no remorse for anything he has ever done in his life. We can say the more we hear about him the more we realize what a disaster he will be if he becomes President. What we can’t do is accurately diagnosis him as having a particular mental problem. It is a disservice to people who have genuine diagnoses and are struggling with problems to classify Romney as being one of them. Call Romney out for his behavior but let’s leave the armchair psychology behind. As far as I’m concerned I’m calling Romney a thoroughly rotten human being.