Root of Evil

[ch]

I  watched the history channel's documentary on Hitler and Stalin last night, titled, "Root of Evil." I could not help but notice the numerous times they mentioned that both were NARCISSISTIC!!  Yikes!!!  And both leaders endured very abusive childhoods from mean and strict fathers.

It made me wonder if their reign of destruction and terror was just a ploy to get back at their mean parents.  Both leaders were truly miserable men. But boy did they get their supply of N!

[les]

My understanding of N's at the extreme end of the spectrum is that they are not capable of empathy and thus very capable of inflicting horrors on others.
I guess at the very least many N's are sociopaths. I still think about my mother boasting about burning my father's arm with a cigarette- chilling, sick, sadistic. I think you made a very interesting observation ch about Narcissism and the extreme abuse of power.

Les

[ch]

Does anyone know of any other leaders in the past with NPD?
I have been trying to look into Mussolini and Mao ZeTong, but not able to confirm if these men were abused as children.  Can anyone confirm before i engage in a long research.  Thanks!!

[Learning]

Hi ch,

This is an interesting subject.  My husband attended a world history class a couple of years ago and learned alot about Hitler and Stalin.  He would come home and tell me about what he learned.  In retrospect, I thought that they probably had NPD as well.  I don't know much about Mussolini or Mao zeTong, but I do have a suspicion of Saddam Hussein.  This link gives a bit about his childhood.  Seems he was abused by his stepfather...

http://www.emergency.com/hussein1.htm

Take Care,
Lisa

[Anonymous]

Also Napoleon.  There is an article on it here.

http://www.geocities.com/Area51/2162/indexhum.html

This is a whole series, you have to scroll down to get to the Napoleon article.  I used the "Main Page" URL as some of the other articles are informative as well.

Gingerpeach

[ch]

Hi Lisa and Gingerpeach,  i found both websites very enlightening.  Thank you so much.

[switzerland]

This week, i finished reading a book on chinese history and culture, and confirmed that Chairman Mao was indeed abused by his father, and later was forced to reconcile and apologize to his  father.  There is definitely abuse in his childhood. No wonder he was so cruel to humanity in disguised as an effective political leader. The author also noted that his tactics  were at a level even worst than Napoleon.   So far my research is very conclusive about the source of the N and evilness.

I think we need more research, and more awareness about the seriousness of proper parenting if we want more peace on earth.

[Anonymous]

Also Slobodan Milosovic: Milosovic’s parents separated when he was young. His estranged father blew his brains out with a shotgun when Milosovic was 21. When he was in his early 30s his mother hanged herself from a light fitting in the family home.

Neither parent considers the son’s existence sufficient reason for staying alive?

He thinks perhaps: “I might be of little value but other people are much worse than I am” – his contempt for other people leading to death and destruction.

[bunny]

You might be interested in this site:

http://www.psychohistory.com/

bunny

[switzerland]

Bunny,  i have been glued to reading this website that you recommended.  Thank you so much!

[JPBill]

Gandhi? Nah. Nevermind. But I don't think you can throw a copy of War and Peace and not hit a politician who basks in the warm light of N on some level. Those who aren't probably can't handle the sick surroundings they have to work in on capitol hill with all the other N's, give up and walk away. Just like I've had to do on an everyday, personal level. Lately, on my more cynical days I'm prone to calling this country I love so much, NSA. Sad