Could Newt Gingrich really be a sociopath? Well, let's see. Here is a list of symptoms, let's see if he fits the profile:
(source)
- Glibness and Superficial Charm
Glib is one of the first words that comes to mind when describing Gingrich. I don't find him especially charming, but whatever charm he has is certainly superficial.
Who, Me? ;) Winkee face!
Manipulative and Conning
They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.
He definitely saw his first wife as an instrument to be used. She put him through school, then he abandoned her for wife # 2.
Grandiosity, thy name is Newt. In one of the earlier debates, Gingrich answered charges of grandiosity by claiming that he would build a permanent base on the moon.
- Pathological Lying
Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities.
No one lies more coolly or easily than Newt. He lies constantly and confidently. He says demonstrably false things not only as if they were true, but as if everyone knows them to be true, as if they were obviously true. Makes ridiculous claims like having been paid millions to work as an historian when he must know full well that no intelligent person would believe them, and he does it pompously. It's almost impressive.
- Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
Yup!
- Need for Stimulation
Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common.
I don't know about gambling, but promiscuity?
Yup!
Callousness/Lack of Empathy
Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.
What could be more callous than serving your first wife with divorce papers in the hospital? Maybe saying this to your second wife: 'Yes, but you want me all to yourself. Callista doesn't care what I do.' That also shows what a hugely inflated ego Newt has. To basically say to your wife "how could a mere mortal woman like you expect to have a great man like me all to herself? No one woman could possibly be enough for me!" Grandiose sense of self? Yup!
- Irresponsibility/Unreliability
Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause.
See above.
- Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.
Whenever Newt looks bad, he immediately blames the press, blames "gotcha" questions, nothing is ever his fault. At least once, he did this pre-emptively:
"any ad which quotes what I said on Sunday is a falsehood."
The theoretical ads haven't even been made yet, but already Newt is claiming that they are lying by QUOTING HIS OWN WORDS!
So, is Newt Gingrich a sociopath? Well, I'm not a psychiatrist, but YUP!
