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William Seger

(11,724 posts)
6. Power psychosis is a very real mental illness
Tue May 6, 2025, 10:30 AM
May 6

Even severe malignant narcissism is considered to be a personality disorder, not a mental illness, but power psychosis is a serious mental illness because it's what happens when a powerful person loses contact with reality. A Google search produced this AI-generated summary:

Power psychosis is a state where individuals with unchecked power over extended periods experience a loss of touch with reality, leading to distorted perceptions, impaired judgment, and inflated self-confidence. It's characterized by reduced complex social reasoning, increased risk-taking, and a tendency to see others instrumentally.

Key Aspects of Power Psychosis:

Loss of Touch with Reality:
Individuals may experience delusions of grandeur, believing they possess exceptional power, knowledge, or abilities.
Distorted Perceptions:
They might see others as smaller, less significant, or as obstacles to be overcome.
Reduced Empathy and Social Reasoning:
Power psychosis can lead to a decrease in the ability to understand or consider the perspectives of others.
Increased Risk-Taking:
Individuals may make decisions that are reckless or that disregard potential consequences.
Inflated Self-Confidence and Reduced Inhibition:
They may become overly self-assured and less concerned with social norms or consequences.

Causes and Consequences:

Unchecked Power:
The syndrome is primarily linked to prolonged exposure to high levels of power, where individuals are not held accountable or have little to no limitations on their actions.

Impact on Others:
The behavior of individuals experiencing power psychosis can be detrimental to those around them, leading to harm, manipulation, and injustice.
Potential for Abuse:
Power psychosis can contribute to the abuse of authority and the exploitation of others.

Distinction from Other Conditions:

While power psychosis shares some similarities with narcissistic personality disorder, it's not solely a character trait but rather a syndrome triggered by the circumstances of having unchecked power.

It's also important to differentiate it from clinical psychosis, which can be caused by various factors, including mental illness, substance abuse, or trauma.

In summary, power psychosis is a complex phenomenon where unchecked power can lead to a distorted view of reality and impaired judgment, potentially resulting in harmful actions and behaviors.

Recommendations

7 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Being drug toward the abyss by a billion pound ruskie slob like an anchor SheltieLover May 6 #1
Excellent analogy! Diamond_Dog May 6 #2
Ty! SheltieLover May 6 #25
Just die already... please Mr. tRump just die... Blue Owl May 6 #24
The whole world is rooting for it! SheltieLover May 7 #40
and where is Congress? 4catsmom May 7 #39
Thumbs up their asses & clutching their pearls fearing kompromat SheltieLover May 7 #41
We sure are. A great world power destroyed by one stupid corrupt senile old man. NNadir May 6 #3
tsf couldn't pour piss out of a boot even with the instructions printed on the heel. rubbersole May 6 #5
Unfortunately it isn't just one senile old man Biophilic May 6 #7
If they're so bright, why did the choose such an inadequate vehicle? NNadir May 6 #10
Unfortunately I fear he is doing an excellent job of destroying things. Biophilic May 6 #14
he's gleefully and willfully destroying America. He's an old man with bottomless pit for adulation. Demovictory9 May 6 #18
Perhaps because he's perfect for capturing Magoo48 May 6 #15
Nailed it orangecrush May 6 #16
That's his genius, it's why they need him, no one else can manipulate the ignorant and uninformed like Trump. sop May 6 #26
Well, for one thing, believe it or not robbob May 6 #31
You forgot "greedy" and "fucked-up". calimary May 6 #17
No. Trump is an easily manipulated, useful idiot who is a cult leader. elocs May 7 #38
Kick. Great read. bronxiteforever May 6 #4
Power psychosis is a very real mental illness William Seger May 6 #6
Sounds exactly like Trump, Musk karin_sj May 7 #37
Are we bdamomma May 6 #8
Here in Florida/Sarasota, my husband tells me the somewhat scary part of what's happened. chouchou May 6 #9
Sounds to me DENVERPOPS May 6 #11
Oh yeah...and it's like they're punching more holes in the wooden boat....out in the ocean of society. chouchou May 6 #22
They are frightened. SharonAnn May 6 #12
And DEEPLY ASHAMED, I hope! calimary May 6 #19
Your words are true. Strange how people will choose dinner plates and glasses longer than a President. chouchou May 6 #21
KnR Hekate May 6 #13
My anger is with the Republican congress that refuse to rein in this lunatic. GoodRaisin May 6 #20
"History will judge them harshly." Let's hope so. If so, I hope that Democrats & those on the Left elocs May 6 #23
Trump did not orchestrate what is happening in this country stillcool May 6 #27
Trump is a useful idiot, an easily manipulated puppet. When no longer useful & a liability, elocs May 7 #35
I feel the same way. stillcool May 7 #36
Unfortunately, J_William_Ryan May 6 #28
The bull has been handed the keys to the china shop. Initech May 6 #29
Trump recently mused about having the US "join" the British Commonwealth... AntiFascist May 6 #30
Reminds me of something.... Xolodno May 6 #32
FUCK the "White Evangelical Protestants"--- a group I was RAISED in!!! Jack Valentino May 6 #33
The leadership in those groups are a bunch of perverts trying to turn us into A Handmade's Tale mdbl May 7 #34
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