Is There a Strong Presence of Narcissism Among Septuagenarian Leaders Past and Present?
by Narcissism is a real threat among septuagenarian leaders both past and present. The leadership profile of several leaders including Winston Churchill, Marshall Tito, Robert Mugabe, and Fidel Castro are analyzed based on the character traits established for narcissistic leaders.
The recent superficial change in leadership in Cuba and the troubles associated with the 84 year old Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has led me to consider the thought of a strong presence of narcissism among leaders in the seventy and over age category.
Narcissism, according to Wikipedia, is the display of a character base on self love, self image, or ego. Applying this concept to a social group it means an indifference to the plight of others.
Septuagenarian leaders are leaders aged in the seventies and over that tries to influence human behaviors to accomplish missions designated by them.
We have seen several of these types of leaders in the past seventy five years namely Winston Churchill of Great Britain, Marshall Tito of the former Yugoslavia, Edward Seaga of Jamaica, Vere Bird Of Antigua, Fidel Castro of Cuba, Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe formerly Rhodesia, and Eric Williams of Trinidad and Tobago.
Currently John McCain at age 71 is running for the Republican nomination for the President of the United States of America and many are questioning his longevity.
A look at the characteristics of narcissistic personalities and comparing and contrasting them with the behavioral patterns of several of these septuagenarian leaders will hopefully help to prove my point to the reading audience.
Narcissistic traits include:
- A need for a lot of attention
- Preoccupation with oneself, preferences, aspirations, and fantasies of unlimited success
- Devoid of human empathy
- Inclination to lie and deceive
- Very critical of others even to the extent of damaging their reputation
- Different behavioral patterns in public compare to private
- Strong dislike for critics
- A feeling that they are entitled to special privileges
- Display of shifting morality
- High levels of impatience
Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe is currently in his 84th year and has been a tremendous leader for the country especially as a guerilla fighter against the Ian Smith apartheid regime in the 1970’s.
He must be respected for his leadership role in bringing the people of Zimbabwe to independence. However having entered the septuagenarian phase of his life, a behavior pattern emerged that seems to qualify him as narcissistic.
He does not like to be criticized and abuses his opponents especially Morgan Tsvangerai, calling them sellouts, political prostitutes, political charlatans, and two- headed political creatures.
It seems the success of Mr. Mugabe has caused him to become devoid of the feeling of the people of the country, as he is presently seeking a sixth term despite his unpopularity, and a British engineered inflation rate of 1281%.
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