According to the World Health Organization, Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is described as, “A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (either in fantasy or actual behaviour), need for admiration, and lack of empathy that begins by early adulthood and is present in a variety of situations and environments.”
In order for a person to be diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) they must meet five or more of the following symptoms:
Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.
Believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions).
Rarely acknowledges mistakes and/or imperfections.
Requires excessive admiration.
Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favourable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations.
Is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
Lacks empathy: is unwilling or unable to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.
Shows arrogant, haughty behaviours or attitude.
Theodore Millon identified five subtypes of narcissist. Any individual narcissist may exhibit none or one of the following:
unprincipled narcissist - including antisocial features. A charlatan - is a fraudulent, exploitative, deceptive and unscrupulous individual. (Pronounced as JILMART in Sinhala)
amorous narcissist - including histrionic features. The Don Juan of our times - is erotic, exhibitionist.
compensatory narcissist - including negativistic (passive-aggressive), avoidant features.
elitist narcissist - variant of pure pattern. Corresponds to Wilhelm Reich's "phallic narcissistic" personality type.
fanatic type - including paranoid features. A severely narcissistically wounded individual, usually with major paranoid tendencies who holds onto an illusion of omnipotence.
My personal belief is that Mahinda Rajapaksa is afflicted with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). If you have been closely observing his shenanigans since he came to power in November 2005, (especially the recent week long Tamasha that was organised for his second inauguration as PresiDunce), you too would have come to the same conclusion after reading the observations of the WHO and Theodore Millon which are given above. I further believe that according to Theodore Millons identified five subtypes of narcissist, Mahinda Rajapaksa falls in to the category of,
unprincipled narcissist - including antisocial features. A charlatan - is a fraudulent, exploitative, deceptive and unscrupulous individual. (Pronounced as JILMART in Sinhala)
and
fanatic type - including paranoid features. A severely narcissistically wounded individual, usually with major paranoid tendencies who holds onto an illusion of omnipotence.
Now the 64 million dollar question is, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?
Short of a peoples’ revolution or the grim reaper having mercy upon us and giving Rajapaksa what he deserves...I see no other solution to the continuation of his dictatorial rule in the near future!
