Political personality disorder

CITING court documents, London’s Financial Times has reported that as recently as last year presidential contender Asif Ali Zardari was “diagnosed with a range of serious illnesses including dementia, major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.” This has been attributed in part to the alleged torture he suffered while in prison in Pakistan.In fact, people possess a number of traits that are components of their personality. Collectively these characteristics present themselves in the form of certain behaviour patterns that are either desirable or undesirable. Some of these traits are paranoia, jealousy, obsession, attention-seeking, dependence, sensitiveness or an exaggerated sense of self-importance.These traits can create problems for the person possessing them during social interaction. However, these traits become threatening when they assume the form of a fully fledged personality disorder. This has been defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV as “enduring pattern(s) of inner experience and behaviour” that are sufficiently rigid and deep-seated to bring a person into repeated conflict with his or her social and occupational environment.Pakistan has been unfortunate in that many of its leaders have played havoc with the country and caused it immense harm. This can be attributed to the fact that a number of them have suffered from personality disorders. Yet this has not been widely recognised because little emphasis is placed on the mental health aspect of people in a position of responsibility in public life.One wonders why this is so when professional institutions subject candidates desirous of entering them to rigorous psychological tests before appointing them. Why are political leaders not subjected to similar screening before getting unrestricted licence to enter politics? A suitable personality test would be worthwhile for highlighting undesirable traits or personality disorders falling under the psychiatric diagnostic category.Is such screening and suitable counselling that focuses on ethics and morality too impractical a proposal? Those elected and aspiring to take oath of public office must be subjected to similar physical and psychological tests as many institutions, such as the armed forces, prescribe. Revalidation and annual appraisal would be ideal but may prove to be too ambitious a suggestion at this stage.In some of our leaders, we have observed strong traits of narcissism that is reflected in feelings of self-importance, a craving for admiration and exploitative attitudes towards others. They have unrealistic and inflated views of their talents and accomplishments and may become extremely angry if criticised.The anti-social traits of some leaders have been widely discussed in the print media. They have been described as having a propensity to lie, being manipulative and selfishly disregarding the rights of others. A majority of political leaders have no doubt displayed histrionic behaviour at times that have caused great embarrassment internationally.A number of reasons are given for these personality disorders. Besides being inherited through genes, they may be triggered by faulty or dysfunctional upbringing and malfunctioning environmental influences. An example of this can be seen in the president who has just stepped down. He identified some of his own problems in his autobiography. He writes about his bullying tendencies; an extension of this behaviour was manifested in his authoritarian attitude, love of power, low frustration tolerance, anger and sensitivity to criticism. Such personalities generally tend to be rigid. They may take some very good decisions but later commit mistakes as a result of over-vigilance and anxiety.Some leaders have displayed behaviour reflecting a high sense of insecurity and personal inadequacies. Our political leaders are also in the habit of constantly blaming others and holding each other responsible for faulty outcomes of policymaking or decisions. Bullying is also a trait which prompts politicians to level allegations against their opponents and subjects them to torture, defamation etc.It seems that there is a problem with the country’s politics which has attracted a large number of politicians with faulty personality traits. By forming a mafia they strengthen their hold on power. Those few who tried to do something better for the nation were assassinated or wiped out.A number of leaders remained in exile, had luxurious lives and plenty of money but were always craving to return with the intention of acquiring power. This can be explained in terms of power addiction, a condition which drives personalities with moderate to severe degrees of craving to gain power. It is sometimes argued that those addicted to power may have specific brain receptors for such addiction or there may be a specific gene that is coupled with a particular type of personality. However, there is no conclusive evidence.It is interesting to note that if gratification is not acquired such individuals may develop complications like anxiety, depression and paranoid disorders. The existing faulty personality trait if combined with power addiction may result in faulty administration if such individuals are given the reins of power. One wonders whether diagnostic manuals will consider a new category by the name of ‘political personality disorder’. Besides, the idea of personality testing is not too ambitious if we wish to improve the socio-political scenario of the country.
Courtesy: Daily Dawn Lahore / By Dr Amin A. Gadit