How the President ’s Communication Style Is Like That of an Abusive Parent

Abuse is defined as, “the improper usage or treatment of an entity, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, assault, violation, rape, unjust practices, crimes, or other types of aggression.”1 The more I hear the president speak, the more he presents as an abusive parent, with name-calling, threats and bullying hurled at those who disagree with his policies and public persona. The intention is to control through intimidation in order to maintain his version of reality. This is a common theme among those I have served as a career therapist over the past four decades. Stories from clients of parents who have been verbally and/or physically abusive have ranged from being barraged with disparaging names like ‘loser,’ and ‘incompetent,’ and being demeaned by the parent who considered their child’s needs of little consequence. Memories of childhood abuse survivors are being triggered by what they witness daily at the hands of this administration. Increasingly, I am hearing it in my office. Common themes include: Gaslighting, which is a tactic by which an abuser has the victim believing that their perceptions are inaccurate. Talk of ‘fake news’ and ‘alternative facts’ are a few examples. Authoritarian control (my way or the highway) is common in households in which one-person alone reigns supreme. Nationalism is a call for that divide and conquer mentality. A chaotic en...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Anger Bullying Communication Minding the Media Narcissism Personal Trauma Abusive Parent Abusive Treatment Authoritarian Parenting Child Abuse President Trump Source Type: blogs