Do you think most politicians are narcissists?

[Stinky The Clown]

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Yes, most have huge egos. And power does indeed corrupt.

[cali]

8. having a huge ego is not synonymous with narcissism.

[sinkingfeeling]

12. Right, narcissism means being unaware of oneself. Egotism means

be completely preoccupied with self.

[meow2u3]

2. I think politics attracts narcissists

A large number of politicians are narcissists, if not most. If they weren't narcissists, they'd be reluctant to enter politics.

[Lint Head]

3. It's natural. Anyone chosing to be a public personality

is narcissistic and has an ego bigger than most people. Some are sociopaths.

[Arctic Dave]

4. All but a few.

Can anyone show me a major politician that is for helping people more then themselves?

[Rex]

5. Yes.

As are actors imo.

[geek tragedy]

6. They have large egos and are extroverts for the most part.

But, in terms of being classic narcissistic personalities? Mostly no.

[cali]

9. but those aren't elements of narcissism.

[cali]

11. I don't think "most" people understand what narcissism is.

[hobbit709]

13. Most?

[DevonRex]

14. Most don't actually have narcissistic personality disorder.

Most have some narcissistic traits. Many ordinary people do, too.

[Rex]

16. True, the OP title would be better served by

saying narcissistic traits.

[DevonRex]

18. Yes. Or making it very clear if he means NPD.

Which would make it a silly question. However, I'm certain there are a few.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. "Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself."

Mark Twain

"Few men of first class ability can afford to let their affairs go to ruin while they fool away their time in Legislatures. . . . But your chattering, one-horse village lawyer likes it, and your solemn ass from the cow countries, who don't know the Constitution from the Lord's Prayer, enjoys it, and these you always find in the Assembly." Mark Twain

[SheilaT]

19. As someone who ran for office about a decade ago,

I can tell you that a strong ego is necessary to run in the first place. I lost, so my insight into this is somewhat limited, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that often, depending on the job, you're now going to be insulated from various day-to-day things that you used to have to deal with.

And if you're in a real high profile position, such as Governor, U.S. Representative or Senator, you're going to be immersed in a lot of ego-stroking stuff. But even being a state rep or state senator, or mayor of a major city, is going to tend to set you apart in various ways. My guess is that it doesn't take too long to be in a bubble. If you have a tendency to narcissism, then watch out.

But I do not think that most politicians are by definitions narcissists.