[Noon Salon] The Psychology of Malicious Powerholders and How to Respond
A psychologist explained that it is important to distinguish between an “evil person” and a “malicious person.” The judgment that someone is evil can vary depending on the law, social and cultural norms, and the context of the time, while “malicious” describes a disposition to take pleasure in choices that harm others. The psychologist said it is necessary to distinguish between someone who has committed a bad act and someone who enjoys others' suffering itself.
The psychologist cited research on sadism in which participants chose an option that caused more suffering to another person even though an alternative offered a greater reward. Such people find the action more appealing when they see the victim's distress, and may justify bad behavior as more honest or authentic. The psychologist added that parents and childhood experiences play an important role in the development of these traits.
The psychologist said some researchers analyze Trump as a figure who seeks to demonstrate, through his own will, the changes and instability of nature to others. The psychologist also cited the phrase “deliberately impulsive” as a trait that repeatedly appears in analyses by various psychologists. The explanation was that such a person carefully calculates the other party's immediate reaction—such as pain or fear—while giving little thought to the longer-term consequences that follow.
The psychologist said that when narcissism is added to this mix—a belief that one is exceptionally capable and superior—the person's behavior becomes difficult to predict. When dealing with an impulsive person in power, the psychologist advised against responding immediately to the substance of what they say and recommended delaying a response to observe their hand. However, one should not wait so long that the other person feels ignored; the psychologist suggested leaving a gap and responding around the seventh or eighth turn out of ten.