# Mental health **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 15, 2016, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046 "2016-09-15T22:34:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046/1 "2016-09-15T22:34:50Z")
Since ‘health’ apparently does not included in mental health, I’ll ask here: Trump seems to be misremembering his [campaign stop in Flint, MI](http://www.npr.org/2016/09/15/494064219/trump-criticizes-flint-pastor-but-misstates-key-facts-about-their-encounter). In a nutshell: Trump started bashing Clinton. The pastor of the church where he was speaking said, ‘Mr. Trump, I invited you here to thank us for what we’ve done for Flint, not to give a political speech.’ Trump said OK, he’d ‘go back onto Flint’. Later, Trump told _Fox And Friends_ ‘The audience was saying, “Let him speak, let him speak.”’ > [@](#): > > That isn’t true. In fact, several audience members began to heckle Trump, asking pointed questions about whether he racially discriminated against black tenants as a landlord. > > And that’s when Timmons — who Trump said Thursday had planned to ambush him — stepped in to defend Trump, saying the Republican nominee was “a guest of my church, and you will respect him.” > > “Thank you. Thank you, Pastor,” Trump responded. Trump is [(in)famous for his poor memory](http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2016/jul/06/17-things-donald-trump-said-and-then-denied-saying/). Is it possible that Trump is suffering from some form of [dementia](http://www.alz.org/dementia/types-of-dementia.asp)? Or is he a [pathological liar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathological_lying)? Are presidential candidates subject to psychological reviews? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046/2 "2016-09-15T22:43:44Z")
I think the technical name for it is Bullshit Artist. I remember a Forbes article on him awhile back where Trump told the reporter “Let’s do the interview in my awesome office overlooking awesome street. I never let media up there but you’ll love it”; the writer then notes that Trump must have forgotten because he saw Trump do a televised interview from there the week before. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046/3 "2016-09-15T22:54:21Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I think the technical name for it is Bullshit Artist. This is absolutely correct. He’s not a “liar” per se… he exaggerates and misremembers stuff, and then tries to weasel his way out with a continued stream of BS. He tries to be smarmy-shmoozy, and then when that does not work, he gets aggressive and angry. This is how he has operated his businesses. The term “bullshit artist” fits him to a T. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046/4 "2016-09-15T22:59:52Z")
Misremembered a little: > [@](#): > > Trump would rather take me up to his three-story penthouse and prove it’s surely worth twice the $100 million value we put on it. An offer to see the over-the-top Versailles-in-the-sky needs no arm-twisting, but Trump sells it anyway: “I’ll show you the first floor of my apartment, which I’ve never done before–I don’t do that.” > > Except he has. To Access Hollywood . And Newsweek . And Extra . And a FORBES photographer way back in 2000. Heck, his 60 Minutes interview would take place in the first floor of the penthouse the next day, to be shared with 15 million people on Sunday. Trump has never let small details get in the way of good pitch. [Inside The Epic Fantasy That’s Driven Donald Trump For 33 Years](http://www.forbes.com/sites/randalllane/2015/09/29/inside-the-epic-fantasy-thats-driven-donald-trump-for-33-years/#44dd25ba19ce) It’s actually a fun read. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046/5 "2016-09-15T23:02:40Z")
He’s so fucking mentally retarded he thinks he’s a politician. And after this latest book tour (AKA POTUS Campaign), he’s still not a politician. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046/6 "2016-09-15T23:03:02Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > This is absolutely correct. He’s not a “liar” per se… he exaggerates and misremembers stuff, and then tries to weasel his way out with a continued stream of BS. He tries to be smarmy-shmoozy, and then when that does not work, he gets aggressive and angry. This is how he has operated his businesses. > > The term “bullshit artist” fits him to a T. I’ve known someone since we were both four years old. He reminds me a lot of Trump, only he didn’t have a multi-million dollar nest egg to begin to carry out his schemes. Mrs. L.A. says he sounds like he has bipolar personality disorder, but he doesn’t seem to have the depression side of it. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046/7 "2016-09-15T23:20:34Z")
BANG YOUR HEAD! Metal health will drive you mad! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046/8 "2016-09-15T23:25:45Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > BANG YOUR HEAD! Metal health will drive you mad! :smack: Reported for typo fix. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046/9 "2016-09-15T23:29:51Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > :smack: > > Reported for typo fix. That song is now stuck in my head. So thanks for that. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046/10 "2016-09-15T23:36:24Z")
Narcissistic Personality Disorder: > [@](#): > > Narcissistic Personality Disorder involves arrogant behavior, a lack of empathy for other people, and a need for admiration-all of which must be consistently evident at work and in relationships. People who are narcissistic are frequently described as cocky, self-centered, manipulative, and demanding. Narcissists may concentrate on unlikely personal outcomes (e.g., fame) and may be convinced that they deserve special treatment. Related Personality Disorders: Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046/11 "2016-09-15T23:39:42Z")
I thought Trump was a pretty obvious case of [narcissistic personality disorder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder#Signs_and_symptoms). It fits his behavior pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046/12 "2016-09-15T23:48:51Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Narcissistic Personality Disorder: > [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I thought Trump was a pretty obvious case of [narcissistic personality disorder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder#Signs_and_symptoms). It fits his behavior pretty well. [That’s it!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPeFGda8l4I) At least as far as my friend is concerned. It also sounds very much like Trump. But what about the alleged inability to remember statements, even when those statements are quoted to him verbatim or shown to him on video? Would that be an aspect of NPD, where he does remember but denies it? Or does he really not remember, and is that a sign of dementia? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046/13 "2016-09-16T00:03:01Z")
The thing is, like many other Bullshit artists, the sheer VOLUME of Trump’s lies and crap and spew have effectively rendered him immune to criticism. There is simply too much utter bullshit flowing at high volumes out of his mouth. [Just today Trump claimed](http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2016/09/15/ford-ceo-fires-back-donald-trump-jobs-mexico/90432472/) that the Ford Motor Company was eliminating ALL of their jobs in the USA: > [@](#): > > Trump also criticized Ford Wednesday after Fields told Wall Street investors that the automaker would move all small car production to Mexico over the next two to three years. > > "They think they’re going to get away with this and they fire all their employees in the United States Of course, this is utter Bullshit. Completely false. Wrong. But this does not matter to a bullshit artist. He does not care. He’ll tell a different story to a different audience on a different day. And there is just so much of it that nobody can even keep up with his lies. Of course, a group of voters LOVE the bullshit artist. They think it’s great. Wonderful. Some have even said that they KNOW it’s bullshit. They KNOW it’s not true. But they like him because he is telling them what they want to hear - comforting lies, with comforting easy, simple solutions. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046/14 "2016-09-16T00:05:31Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > [That’s it!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPeFGda8l4I) At least as far as my friend is concerned. It also sounds very much like Trump. > > But what about the alleged inability to remember statements, even when those statements are quoted to him verbatim or shown to him on video? Would that be an aspect of NPD, where he does remember but denies it? Or does he really not remember, and is that a sign of dementia? I don’t think it’s dementia. It’s not that his neurological function is compromised by an organic brain physical illness. It’s that he does not CARE what he said before. He only can think of what he has said NOW. He genuinely warps his story to fit the circumstance of RIGHT NOW, and what he or anyone has said in the past simply has no bearing whatsoever on what he will say or do RIGHT NOW. In this way, it is a mental illness, yes, but not something like dementia, where he CANNOT remember things. He just choses what he wants to believe as the truth minute to minute. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046/15 "2016-09-16T00:09:58Z")
From memory: I’m an ax grinder, pile driver, mama says that I never never mind her But I do pay attention to OPs that request I fix a thread title. Bang your head, baby. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046/16 "2016-09-16T00:20:00Z")
Thank you, **JC**. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046/17 "2016-09-16T01:11:22Z")
The thing is, just because you hang a psychological term on it doesn’t change what everyone already knows. Trump is a loud mouth bullshitting braggart. Do really imagine some doctor can walk in and say “sorry, that’s in the DSM. You can’t be President”? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046/18 "2016-09-16T01:46:16Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > The thing is, just because you hang a psychological term on it doesn’t change what everyone already knows. Trump is a loud mouth bullshitting braggart. Do really imagine some doctor can walk in and say “sorry, that’s in the DSM. You can’t be President”? True. Plus, there are a couple of groups of people out there who won’t care one little bit anyway: 1. Those who are too dim and/or misinformed to be able to discern bullshit from reality. This is a fairly large group. They will believe the most outrageous crap that anyone throws at them. These are the folks that fall for scams and lying salesmen. Who buys time share pitches? Who purchases overpriced gold coins? Who buys shitty used cars with spay-painted rust? Suckers. 2. Those who know that Trump is bullshitting them, but LOVE IT. They think it’s great that a BS artist is screwing up the system like this. They think it’s a game. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046/19 "2016-09-16T02:01:58Z")
I think he’s a psychopath. Not the kind that becomes a serial killer. The kind that becomes a mean SOB, yet has the common sense to stay out of trouble, because trouble isn’t fun; still, I think he lacks the empathy to understand why people care about consistency in his presentation. He’s running for president. He doesn’t think what he said before he started running for president should have any bearing on what he is saying now. This is a rule he is operating by, plucked out of who knows where, but the point is, it’s how he is operating, and it fails him completely that everyone isn’t following this same rule. A psychopath of his variety simply can’t see from any point of view other than his own. It’s no wonder he’s on his third marriage. It’s no wonder he does idiot things like telling Scotland it was wise to vote to leave the EU; it wasn’t so much that he confused England and Scotland, as he had his mind made up as to what the “right” decision was, and just assumed that would be the outcome. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046/20 "2016-09-16T02:34:23Z")
I thought he was on his third marriage because he sees women as sex-toys, arm-candy, and status symbols, and as soon as Current Wife starts losing her looks she gets dumped for a newer model. I thought that was one of the reasons American women loathe him. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-health/766046.md?page=2)