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You could also probably argue that the power structure set up in a dictatorship exacerbates these tendencies. Absolute power would naturally push you toward a

by skohan 5y ago

You could also probably argue that the power structure set up in a dictatorship exacerbates these tendencies. Absolute power would naturally push you toward a narcissistic view on the world, because, well, you always would be the most important person in the room, and everyone else's job is literally to do what you want.

ModernMech 5y ago
Oh for sure. The primary directive of a narcissist is to feed off of narcissistic supply. It's what they live for. When a narcissist gets into power, it's like overdosing on a drug for them. Every word they say is recorded, every move they make is watched. They gain the ability to speak and have it broadcast to every corner of their nation. It's addictive to them. This is why you see dictators crack down on journalists; while the narcissist loves praise, he hates criticism no matter how deserved. Well, it's part of the reason. One other reason is that dictatorships are based on mythologies that put the dictator at the center of the universe. Typically a dictator establishes legitimacy by painting "others" as the source of all societal problems, and the dictator will solve those problems by subjugating the "other". Of course that's not true, and journalists will unhelpfully point that out, so usually the first thing to go under a dictatorship is the free press. And it goes on from there. As you start persecuting the "others" they will use the judicial system for redress and they will receive it. So then they have to stack the courts. People will see this and attempt to elect new leaders. So then they have to kill elections, or at least rig them. The political opposition will thwart your agenda, so they have to get rid of them as well. That's when political purges start happening. Their own institutions like the Department of Health, Labor, Economy, War or what have you will issue reports that show the problems are not improving, despite the fact that the "others" have been persecuted into the ground. That's when they start installing unqualified quislings into these bureaucracies who will push their agenda. Of course, now that they've gutted the government of all competency things will begin getting worse and people will start to get upset with you. That's not good for narcissistic supply. So they find a new "other" to persecute. The cycle repeats as more and more groups are isolated, persecuted, and driven from society. But the problems are never fixed because there's no attempt to even fix them. It's all a game of shifting shells that never ends. But one thing is true through all of this: their ego is happy, so that's all that matters to the dictator. This is why dictators usually face a bloody end. They build the pressure up to a point where it is explosive, and then they find themselves hiding in a hole in the ground, cowering in a bunker with a loaded gun, or hanging from a gas station.

by skohan 5y ago

ModernMech 5y ago

Oh for sure. The primary directive of a narcissist is to feed off of narcissistic supply. It's what they live for. When a narcissist gets into power, it's like overdosing on a drug for them. Every word they say is recorded, every move they make is watched. They gain the ability to speak and have it broadcast to every corner of their nation. It's addictive to them. This is why you see dictators crack down on journalists; while the narcissist loves praise, he hates criticism no matter how deserved. Well, it's part of the reason. One other reason is that dictatorships are based on mythologies that put the dictator at the center of the universe. Typically a dictator establishes legitimacy by painting "others" as the source of all societal problems, and the dictator will solve those problems by subjugating the "other". Of course that's not true, and journalists will unhelpfully point that out, so usually the first thing to go under a dictatorship is the free press. And it goes on from there. As you start persecuting the "others" they will use the judicial system for redress and they will receive it. So then they have to stack the courts. People will see this and attempt to elect new leaders. So then they have to kill elections, or at least rig them. The political opposition will thwart your agenda, so they have to get rid of them as well. That's when political purges start happening. Their own institutions like the Department of Health, Labor, Economy, War or what have you will issue reports that show the problems are not improving, despite the fact that the "others" have been persecuted into the ground. That's when they start installing unqualified quislings into these bureaucracies who will push their agenda. Of course, now that they've gutted the government of all competency things will begin getting worse and people will start to get upset with you. That's not good for narcissistic supply. So they find a new "other" to persecute. The cycle repeats as more and more groups are isolated, persecuted, and driven from society. But the problems are never fixed because there's no attempt to even fix them. It's all a game of shifting shells that never ends. But one thing is true through all of this: their ego is happy, so that's all that matters to the dictator. This is why dictators usually face a bloody end. They build the pressure up to a point where it is explosive, and then they find themselves hiding in a hole in the ground, cowering in a bunker with a loaded gun, or hanging from a gas station.