Psychology Refreshes the Parts

Everywhere I look, intelligent, conservative commentators are writing about the attitudes of the left in psychological terms. My brain has been quite fuzzy this week, from illness and the drugs to combat it, so I haven't been able to sustain active attention in the long, esoteric articles that keep popping up. It's much better when it's put like this (at ShrinkWrapped):

"In Part I of Narcissism in the Real World, I pointed out the Narcissistic pathology on display from Hollywood, the MSM, the left-wing of our political spectrum and the more malignant aspects of Narcissism among the Islamists."

"I raised a question about our elites:"

"At such a dangerous time, when we face implacable enemies who wish to destroy us and our freedoms, why do so many bright people continue to do things that place our nation and our friends at great risk for what seems to be the most minimal, narrow and partisan of advantages?"

"As luck would have it, current events continue to supply me with evidence to support and elucidate my position. Here are some points for reflection:"

"1) Narcissists are extremely sensitive to criticism and experience disagreement as criticism.

2) As a result, the Narcissist is unable to tolerate having their beliefs questioned and reacts to such criticism with disdain and anger.

3) Furthermore, criticism of a Narcissist evokes feelings of humiliation and humiliation always evokes compensatory rage.

4) Rage can be externalized and expressed when circumstances allow.

5) When rage cannot be externalized it turns inward. One of Freud's earliest insights, which still contains a significant amount of explanatory power, is that rage turned inward leads to depression."

"...To a Narcissist, all opposing opinions are sh*t. Thus, if their favored group is not in charge, the country is a cesspool. People like this have regressed to treating everything on only two dimensions."


There are two ways to criticise; badly and terribly. However, some of the kindest, most intelligent people in my life have made the decision to judge and critique what I've done - usually because I've asked them first! But the other leading comment is "would you like to know what I think?" I've learned to grit my teeth, gird my loins and say as warmly as I can "oh yes, please DO, tell me EVERYTHING you're thinking." Phew, I've learned a lot. It can be uncomfortable. It's nearly always been helpful.

I don't perceive the same openness to criticism among my dear if lefty friends - and yes, they know about my blog.

Lefties don't enjoy thinking about and discussing all the possibilities, options, characters in play, strategies, tactics, competitive frame, budget constraints, timescale, why, everything that makes account planning so much fun to do. They're in a kind of "war, huh, what is it good for, absolutely nothing" mindset which seems so, so, suburban I want to say.

According to John Cleese and Robin Skinner in 'Life and How to Survive it" the point of getting older is to work at identifying and addressing our individual psychological problems so that we become mentally healthier and happier.

I'll leave you with this happy thought:

Robin Skinner: ...perhaps one big difference in very healthy people is that they can be more comfortable with their 'madness' than the rest of us. p.29