When people with a psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia are evidencing hallucinations or delusions, we subsume that behavior under their disorder. If they are hearing voices, we recognize them as auditory hallucinations. If they believe the FBI is monitoring their thoughts, we recognize this as a delusion. If they are seeing small aliens walking across the dinner table, we understand that it is likely a visual hallucination.

What we don’t do is spend time spinning their behavior into something else. It is accepted as part of the disorder, treatment is given, and  typically  the symptoms abate and are managed.

So let me ask WHY. Why is every political pundit on the planet gussying up and parading on CNN, and MSNBC and FOX and everywhere else reflecting and opining and deciphering Trump’s behavior. Why is everyone so damned uncomfortable with the N word?

Trump is a perfect narcissist. In a few weeks I start teaching my junior level abnormal psychology class, and in Trump I have the ideal teaching case. Why do these political pundits keep framing his ignorant and narcissistic behavior as strategy, and gleefully guessing his next move? Is it because we take away their punch line when we boil it down to the simplest explanation – he appears to be a full blown narcissist and he is never going to change? This week he went after Carson’s medical training and spiritual core and Fiorina’s looks. Just like at a sideshow, I look forward to next week’s gruesome insults, it’s sort of fun to see how horrifying this can get.  He’s a street fighter, and in a world of internet insults, and anonymous electronic bullying, he is the mascot of the mean.

Trump has nearly every characteristic of a disorder which is clearly delineated in the DSM-5 (many of us in the field argue about whether a dysfunctional personality style should be deemed a disorder, but these are conversations for another day). It just happens to be a disorder that our soulless capitalist engines reward, but that doesn’t make it ok. And just as we would not wonder if a person with schizophrenia is being strategic about having religious delusions in hope of winning the evangelical vote, don’t talk about Trump’ s insults, entitlement, bullying, grandiosity, and superficiality as strategy. Don’t give Trump and his symptomatology so much credit. Any psychologist worth her salt can predict his next move. Perhaps the political pundits would like to sign up for Psychology 310/Abnormal Psychology with me (class begins September 24, there is a wait list – but I can try and squeeze you in) – they will then realize that this is superficial child’s play and playground antics, not high level political tactics.

In the meaner, more ignorant America that evolves one Kim Davis at a time – he has a shot at winning this election. Betting on Trump to engage in a below the belt ad hominem attack of his competitors is like betting on Secretariat to win a country fair horse race. Plan on it. It’s not strategy, it’s in his DNA.