Beschreibung
Social power is irresistibly appealing to narcissistically disturbed personalities. Uninhibited egocentricity, career obsession, a winning mentality and fantasies of grandeur - the narcissist employs these traits to clear the way through the corridors of economic and political power. Blinded by his fantasies of grandeur and omnipotence, the narcissist loses his grasp on social reality and necessarily fails in the end. It is closely related to this loss of reality that the leader turns away from the norms, values and ideals to which he should actually be committed. Obsession with power, unscrupulousness and cynicism can give rise to brutal misanthropy. »a masterpiece of political psychology« Norbert Copray, Dr. phil., is director of the Fairness Foundation and editor of the journal Publik Forum. »HansJürgen Wirth has reached the stage at which a general psychology of politics can be established. This step had been indispensable.« Paul Parin (1916-2009), M.D., psychoanalyst in Zurich, International Sigmund Freud Award of Vienna. »To better understand our political leaders is to better understand ourselves, and humanitys chances for survival. In this extraordinary book, Hans-Jürgen Wirth explores the impact of narcissism on how political power is exercised. Scholarly, insightful, passionate, and beautifully illustrated, this book challenges us to take a hard look at the characters of those we choose as our leaders. It affirms that psychoanalysis can make vital contributions to our comprehension of political processes.« Sandra Buechler, Ph.D., is training and supervising analyst at the William Alanson White Institute in New York.
Autorenporträt
Hans-Jürgen Wirth, Dipl.-Psych. und Psychologischer Psychotherapeut, ist Professor an der Universität Bremen und arbeitet in eigener psychoanalytischer Praxis in Gießen. Er ist Gründer und Verleger des Psychosozial-Verlags sowie Herausgeber der Zeitschrift ''psychosozial''. Wirth hat zahlreiche Bücher und Artikel in Deutsch und Englisch publiziert. Hans-Jürgen Wirth, psychoanalyst (DPV, IPA), is professor at the University of Bremen and maintains a private psychoanalytic practice in Gießen. He is the founding director and owner of the publishing company Psychosozial-Verlag and editor of the periodical ''psychosozial''. Wirth has published numerous books and articles both in German and English.
