> who cares if the CCP is a narcissist control freak. My first impression is that CCP and Taiwan remind me of the archetype of the unwanted suitor that never g

> who cares if the CCP is a narcissist control freak. My first impression is that CCP and Taiwan remind me of the archetype of the unwanted suitor that never gets the message and keeps on pursuing a disinterested woman. But I think your framing CCP in psychological terms is just as if not more apt. I'm just pasting a list of symptoms of narcissism. Not all apply, but strikingly, enough symptoms do apply to CCP for a positive diagnosis: Grandiosity Exaggerated sense of self-importance Feeling superior to others and that one deserves special treatment Feelings are often accompanied by fantasies of unlimited success, brilliance, power, beauty, or love which more often than not cover for hidden anxiety Excessive need for admiration Must be the center of attention Often monopolize conversations Easily offended, slighted, mistreated, depleted, and enraged when ignored Engages in blaming Long-held grudges Superficial and exploitative relationships Relationships are based on surface attributes and not the unique qualities of others Others are only valued only to the extent they are viewed as beneficial Lack of empathy Severely limited or totally lacking ability to care about the emotional needs or experiences of others, even loved ones Engages in cruelty Identity disturbance Sense of self is highly superficial, extremely rigid, and often fragile Self-stability depends on maintaining the view that one is exceptional Grandiose sense of self is easily threatened Patients retreat from or deny realities that challenge grandiosity Difficulty with attachment and dependency Relies on feedback from the environment Relationships only exist to shore up positive self-image Interactions are superficial Intimacy is avoided Chronic feelings of emptiness and boredom When attention and praise are not available, patients feel empty, bored, depressed, or restless Vulnerability to life transitions Difficulty maintaining reality-based personal and professional goals over time Compromises required by school, jobs, and relationships may feel unbearable Young adults may have a “failure to launch”