Paranoid disorder and a tendency to authoritarianism: psychiatrist gives Putin’s diagnosis
27 December 2024 11:33
EXCLUSIVE
Narcissistic personality disorder, cognitive impairment, and a penchant for authoritarianism. What does Putin’s psyche hide? Exclusively for Komersant ukrainskyi
, a leading psychiatrist conducted a professional analysis of Putin’s behavior through the prism of clinical psychiatry. How personal traits and pathopsychological changes shape the behavior of the Russian dictator – read more in the article.
The combination of Putin’s political behavior and his personality traits has attracted the attention of experts from various fields. Psychiatrist Yevhen Tychkovsky shared a detailed analysis based on clinical observations. He noted that , according to the Law of Ukraine “On Psychiatric Care,” he cannot officially make a diagnosis without a patient’s voluntary request or legal grounds for examination. Nevertheless, the expert expressed a preliminary professional opinion based on an analysis of the subject’s cognitive, emotional and behavioral manifestations.
According to Tychkovsky, Putin’s behavior shows a number of signs that may indicate the presence of personality disorders.
Narcissistic personality disorder
Demonstrativeness, excessive attention to appearance, and a belief in one’s own exclusivity are the most prominent features of this subject, the expert notes. His obsession with power and the desire to constantly confirm his uniqueness may indicate deep narcissistic tendencies.
“The constant desire to be the center of attention and control over one’s environment is typical behavior for people with narcissistic personality disorder,”
– says Yevhen Tychkovsky.
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Antisocial tendencies
The psychiatrist draws attention to Putin’s past involvement in criminal circles, as well as his tendency to manipulation and violence.
“Lack of remorse, disregard for social norms, and cruelty to others can be signs of antisocial personality disorder. Their actions often demonstrate a lack of empathy and a willingness to sacrifice the interests of others to achieve their own goals.”
Yevhen Tychkovsky
Paranoid disorder and cognitive impairment
The expert also emphasizes suspicion and fixation on ideas of greatness.
“The focus on restoring the empire, intolerance of dissenters, and an obsessive desire for dominance can be manifestations of paranoid thinking,”
– explains Tychkovsky
The age of the subject adds new aspects to the analysis of his or her behavior. With increasing age, the risk of cognitive changes, such as dementia, increases, the expert notes.
“Problems with memorization, decreased critical thinking, and distorted perception of reality can be the result of such disorders. For a more accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct testing using MMSE or MoCA tools.”
Yevhen Tychkovsky
Tendency to authoritarianism and totalitarian thinking
Another important aspect is the rigidity of behavior and intolerance for compromise.
“Putin demonstrates the classic signs of authoritarian thinking: a tendency to control, aggressive reaction to any manifestation of opposition, and imposing his decisions without considering other opinions. This can be explained by the pathopsychological changes that occur in people with a totalitarian worldview,”
– comments Yevhen Tychkovsky.
The expert emphasizes that to confirm any of the described disorders, a full range of diagnostic procedures is required: a clinical interview, assessment of the duration and dynamics of behavioral manifestations, and a detailed study of social and family history.
Let me remind you that in the first year of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, American psychiatrist James Fallon described the state of the Russian president as “a psychopath with signs of sadism.” According to the expert, Putin did indeed have the prerequisites for the development of so-called cluster B personality disorders, including psychopathy and narcissistic personality disorder. The dictator, like other psychopaths, Fallon pointed out, is ready to wait for years for the right moment to attack or take revenge. Now Putin is increasingly losing his sanity: he has overestimated his strength and may go to extreme measures.
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