#3: Positive Self-Evaluations. This has been nominated as a compelling motive by many psychologists. But does he have sufficient self-awareness to experience emotions like shame, embarrassment, or self-loathing? Or enough social awareness to experience empathy for others? (12 of 21) - ThreadSky

motivationford.bsky.social • 25 days ago

#3: Positive Self-Evaluations. This has been nominated as a compelling motive by many psychologists. But does he have sufficient self-awareness to experience emotions like shame, embarrassment, or self-loathing? Or enough social awareness to experience empathy for others? (12 of 21)

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motivationford.bsky.social•25 days ago

Evidently not. So his continuous need for positive self-evaluations may be a more surface-level phenomenon than some have suggested - more like quenching a thirst (which requires constant inputs) rather than addressing an underlying psychological vulnerability. (13 of 21)

motivationford.bsky.social•25 days ago

#2: Social Resource Acquisition. Trump’s insatiable need for flattery and adulation clearly indicates that this goal theme motivates much of his behavior, with the value of these social resources outweighing the motivational potency of material resources by a considerable margin. (14 of 21)

motivationford.bsky.social•25 days ago

Wanting to be regarded positively is a near-universal goal for humans, but the degree to which that dominates Trump’s thinking is extraordinary. Indeed, the frequency of his efforts to seek praise and admiration, and his apparent inability to detect insincere adulation, is astonishing. (15 of 21)

motivationford.bsky.social•25 days ago

#1: Superiority. This goal theme is about competing and winning, and, more generally, comparing favorably with others. This appears to be the most compelling goal theme for President Trump, as evidenced by the fact that he regards winning as motivationally essential even if it requires…. (16 of 21)

motivationford.bsky.social•25 days ago

…cheating or ignoring contradictory facts (most would dismiss victories earned this way). Evidence regarding election results, crowd size estimates, votes received, hateful insulting of opponents, and unlikely golf achievements illustrate his obsession with comparing favorably to others. (17 of 21)

motivationford.bsky.social•25 days ago

(See Rick Reilly’s “Commander in Cheat” for an amazing demonstration of what an overamplified Superiority goal looks like on the golf course). Bottom line: the evidence suggests that President Trump is motivated, first and foremost, to seek out self-perceptions of dominance over others. (18 of 21)

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