We don't need to diagnose Trump as a narcissist, but it is ESSENTIAL

[pnwmom]

that media learn how to deal with his markedly narcissistic behaviors.

The excerpt below was written by a professional in the field.

http://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2016/11/a-reflexive-liar-in-command-guidelines-for-the-media/508832/?utm_source=atlfb

Now that he is poised to assume power, I (and a lot of others) are feeling some urgency around holding his worst tendencies in check and preventing him from following through on his noxious campaign challenges.

It troubles me to observe that so far the news media are having trouble when they deal with him directly. I am seeing good investigative reporting on his conflicts of interest, for instance, but it looked like the NY Times just sort of rolled over when they interviewed him in person.

Nobody seems to realize that normal rules do not apply when you are interviewing a narcissist. You can’t go about this in the way you were trained, because he is an expert at manipulating the very rules you learned. It’s clear to me that reporters (and anyone else) who will deal with DT directly need to take a crash course in handling someone displaying these behaviors.

The Times got in trouble by trying to make sense of his words. It’s an easy mistake for people in a word-saturated medium to make, but anyone who’s dealt with a narcissist knows you never, ever believe what they say—because they will say whatever the person they are talking to wants to hear. DT is a master at phrasing things vaguely enough that multiple listeners will be able to hear exactly what they want. It isn’t word salad; it’s overt deception, which is much more pernicious.

But the Times fell for it. I’m watching the same mistake get made over and over again, but I don’t know how to help journalists get out of the trap. If we are going to survive the days ahead, someone needs to teach reporters the difference between naming narcissism—(JF note: which, to emphasize, there is no point doing)— vs. dealing effectively with a narcissist.

[marylandblue]

1. Media should look at Jake Tapper's interview regarding Judge Curiel

I think that was a good example of how to deal with Trump. Instead of getting distracted by each lie or misdirection, Tapper kept hammering the same point - "is that not the very definition of racism?"

[pnwmom]

2. I also agree with the writer here that reporters need to study from the experts

how to deal with pathological narcissists. Tapper provided a good example, but it isn't enough. Reporters have to start with the assumption that Trump is lying freely every time he opens his mouth -- as a psychiatrist would if he were a client.