Is Trump mentally fit to be president? Let's consult the U.S. Army's field manual on leadership

[Mainecat]

As our Commander in Chief should Trump be held to every other military standard including the Army field manual of leadership?

Op-Ed

Is Trump mentally fit to be president? Let's consult the U.S. Army's field manual on leadership

(Susan Walsh / Associated Press)

Prudence L. Gourguechon

 

Since President Trump’s inauguration, an unusual amount of attention has been paid to the 25th Amendment to the Constitution. That's the measure, ratified in 1967, that allows for removal of the president in the event that he is "unable to discharge the powers and duties" of the office. What does that mean, exactly? Lawyers surely have some ideas. But as a psychiatrist, I believe we need a rational, thorough and coherent definition of the mental capacities required to carry out “the powers and duties” of the presidency.

Although there are volumes devoted to outlining criteria for psychiatric disorders, there is surprisingly little psychiatric literature defining mental capacity, even less on the particular abilities required for serving in positions of great responsibility. Despite the thousands of articles and books written on leadership, primarily in the business arena, I have found only one source where the capacities necessary for strategic leadership are clearly and comprehensively laid out: the U.S. Army’s “Field Manual 6-22 Leader Development.”

The New York Times published a letter signed by 35 psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers. The letter suggests Trump’s “grave emotional instability… makes him incapable of serving safely as president.” (Feb. 21, 2017)

 

 

The Army’s field manual on leadership is an extraordinarily sophisticated document, founded in sound psychological research and psychiatric theory, as well as military practice. It articulates the core faculties that officers, including commanders, need in order to fulfill their jobs. From the manual’s 135 dense pages, I have distilled five crucial qualities:

Trust

According to the Army, trust is fundamental to the functioning of a team or alliance in any setting: “Leaders shape the ethical climate of their organization while developing the trust and relationships that enable proper leadership.” A leader who is deficient in the capacity for trust makes little effort to support others, may be isolated and aloof, may be apathetic about discrimination, allows distrustful behaviors to persist among team members, makes unrealistic promises and focuses on self-promotion.

A good leader 'demonstrates an understanding of another person’s point of view' and 'identifies with others’ feelings and emotions.'

 

Discipline and self-control

The manual requires that a leader demonstrate control over his behavior and align his behavior with core Army values: “Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.” The disciplined leader does not have emotional outbursts or act impulsively, and he maintains composure in stressful or adverse situations. Without discipline and self-control, a leader may not be able to resist temptation, to stay focused despite distractions, to avoid impulsive action or to think before jumping to a conclusion. The leader who fails to demonstrate discipline reacts “viscerally or angrily when receiving bad news or conflicting information,” and he “allows personal emotions to drive decisions or guide responses to emotionally charged situations.”

In psychiatry, we talk about “filters” — neurologic braking systems that enable us to appropriately inhibit our speech and actions even when disturbing thoughts or powerful emotions are present. Discipline and self-control require that an individual has a robust working filter, so that he doesn’t say or do everything that comes to mind.

Judgment and critical thinking

These are complex, high-level mental functions that include the abilities to discriminate, assess, plan, decide, anticipate, prioritize and compare. A leader with the capacity for critical thinking “seeks to obtain the most thorough and accurate understanding possible,” the manual says, and he anticipates “first, second and third consequences of multiple courses of action.” A leader deficient in judgment and strategic thinking demonstrates rigid and inflexible thinking.

Self-awareness

Self-awareness requires the capacity to reflect and an interest in doing so. “Self-aware leaders know themselves, including their traits, feelings, and behaviors,” the manual says. “They employ self-understanding and recognize their effect on others.” When a leader lacks self-awareness, the manual notes, he “unfairly blames subordinates when failures are experienced” and “rejects or lacks interest in feedback.”

Empathy

Perhaps surprisingly, the field manual repeatedly stresses the importance of empathy as an essential attribute for Army leadership. A good leader “demonstrates an understanding of another person’s point of view” and “identifies with others’ feelings and emotions.” The manual’s description of inadequacy in this area: “Shows a lack of concern for others’ emotional distress” and “displays an inability to take another’s perspective.”

 

The Army field manual amounts to a guide for the 25^th Amendment. Whether a president’s Cabinet would ever actually invoke that amendment is another matter. There is, however, at least one historical precedent. The journalists Jane Mayer and Doyle McManus tell the dramatic story in their 1988 book, “Landslide: The Unmaking of the President 1984-1988.”Before he started his job as President Reagan’s third chief of staff, in early 1987, Howard Baker asked an aide, James Cannon, to put together a report on the state of the White House. Cannon then interviewed White House staff, including top aides working for the outgoing chief of staff, Donald Regan. On March 1, the day before Baker took over, Cannon presented him with a memo expressing grave concern that Reagan might not be sufficiently competent to perform his duties. Reagan was inattentive and disinterested, the outgoing staff had said, staying home to watch movies and television instead of going to work. “Consider the possibility that section four of the 25^th Amendment might be applied,” Cannon wrote.

After reading the memo, Baker arranged a group observation of Reagan for the following day. On March 2, Baker, Cannon and two others — Reagan’s chief counsel, Arthur B. Culvahouse Jr., and his communications director, Tom Griscom — scrutinized the president, first at a Cabinet meeting, then at a luncheon. They found nothing amiss. The president seemed to be his usual genial, engaged self. Baker decided, presumably with relief, that Reagan was not incapacitated or disabled and they could all go on with their business.

Much has changed since the Reagan era, of course. Because of Trump’s Twitter habits and other features of the contemporary media landscape, far more data about his behavior are available to everyone — to citizens, journalists and members of Congress. And we are all free to compare that observable behavior to the list of traits deemed critical for leadership by the U.S. Army.

Prudence L. Gourguechon, M.D., is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst in Chicago.

 

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-gourguechon-25th-amendment-leadership-mental-capacities-checklist-20170616-story.html

[oleroule]

this makes you unfit to post.

[Highmark]

  

Impeachment has failed so now they are grasping at the 25th amendment.   Any guess on what is next after this fails?  

Edited July 6, 2017 by Highmark

[Skidooski]

5 minutes ago, Highmark said:

  

Impeachment has failed so now they are grasping at the 25th amendment.   Any guess on what is next after this fails?  

 

They are progressively getting worse and seemingly more and more desperate so will they go as far as an attempt on his life....  

[revkevsdi]

37 minutes ago, Highmark said:

  

Impeachment has failed so now they are grasping at the 25th amendment.   Any guess on what is next after this fails?  

Yeah. It's not like anyone kept asking for his Birth certificate. Anyone not being able to get over Obama's wins and being stupid enough to keep talking about that fake news story is unfit for sure. 

[Skidooski]

The moment he beat Hillary he became unfit for office

[Mainecat]

1 hour ago, revkevsdi said:

Yeah. It's not like anyone kept asking for his Birth certificate. Anyone not being able to get over Obama's wins and being stupid enough to keep talking about that fake news story is unfit for sure. 

If he was an officer in the military he would be asked to step down. His tweet about Mike covered all the aspects.

Commander in Chief has zero checks regarding sane leadership and the right wing apes here dont care.

Lets hope he does not start a war with NK because everyone has been warned and can see the symptoms of an unfit president.

[Jimmy Snacks]

Just now, Mainecat said:

If he was an officer in the military he would be asked to step down. His tweet about Mike covered all the aspects.

Commander in Chief has zero checks regarding sane leadership and the right wing apes here dont care.

Lets hope he does not start a war with NK because everyone has been warned and can see the symptoms of an unfit president.

Good god just stfu with this endless garbage you old fool.

[Mainecat]

1 hour ago, Biggie Smails said:

Good god just stfu with this endless garbage you old fool.

Trump is 12 years older Comrade

He cant find his limo in front of him with the big fuckin seal on it.

 

Edited July 6, 2017 by Mainecat

[Highmark]

10 minutes ago, Mainecat said:

If he was an officer in the military he would be asked to step down. His tweet about Mike covered all the aspects.

Commander in Chief has zero checks regarding sane leadership and the right wing apes here dont care.

Lets hope he does not start a war with NK because everyone has been warned and can see the symptoms of an unfit president.

I have to laugh when people like you supported a POTUS running around the WH getting head from a 22 yo girl, sticking a cigar in her private parts all the while his wife and young daughter were in the same building.   Then he tried to cover it up by offering her a job and asking people to lie during testimony.  The reality is people like you who supported Clinton staying in office are the ones who need to be examined.  

[Mainecat]

1 hour ago, Highmark said:

I have to laugh when people like you supported a POTUS running around the WH getting head from a 22 yo girl, sticking a cigar in her private parts all the while his wife and young daughter were in the same building.   Then he tried to cover it up by offering her a job and asking people to lie during testimony.  The reality is people like you who supported Clinton staying in office are the ones who need to be examined.  

What does that have to do with this thread?

[Kivalo]

2 minutes ago, Mainecat said:

What does that have to do with this thread?

It calls into question your competency in applying logic.

 

[Sleepr2]

2 minutes ago, Kivalo said:

It calls into question your competency in applying logic.

 

There is no question that MCLiar is a pathetic hypocrite and a Liar 

[Highmark]

19 minutes ago, Mainecat said:

What does that have to do with this thread?

Everything.   You supported Clinton and there was clear evididence of his failures of what you posted.   With Trump its assumptions based off tweets.    Simply showing how hypocritical you are.   Every single one of these Clinton failed on yet you would have voted for him again.  In fact Hillary's actions prove she would fail most if not all of them.  

Trust

According to the Army, trust is fundamental to the functioning of a team or alliance in any setting: “Leaders shape the ethical climate of their organization while developing the trust and relationships that enable proper leadership.” A leader who is deficient in the capacity for trust makes little effort to support others, may be isolated and aloof, may be apathetic about discrimination, allows distrustful behaviors to persist among team members, makes unrealistic promises and focuses on self-promotion.

A good leader 'demonstrates an understanding of another person’s point of view' and 'identifies with others’ feelings and emotions.'

 

Discipline and self-control

The manual requires that a leader demonstrate control over his behavior and align his behavior with core Army values: “Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.” The disciplined leader does not have emotional outbursts or act impulsively, and he maintains composure in stressful or adverse situations. Without discipline and self-control, a leader may not be able to resist temptation, to stay focused despite distractions, to avoid impulsive action or to think before jumping to a conclusion. The leader who fails to demonstrate discipline reacts “viscerally or angrily when receiving bad news or conflicting information,” and he “allows personal emotions to drive decisions or guide responses to emotionally charged situations.”

In psychiatry, we talk about “filters” — neurologic braking systems that enable us to appropriately inhibit our speech and actions even when disturbing thoughts or powerful emotions are present. Discipline and self-control require that an individual has a robust working filter, so that he doesn’t say or do everything that comes to mind.

Judgment and critical thinking

These are complex, high-level mental functions that include the abilities to discriminate, assess, plan, decide, anticipate, prioritize and compare. A leader with the capacity for critical thinking “seeks to obtain the most thorough and accurate understanding possible,” the manual says, and he anticipates “first, second and third consequences of multiple courses of action.” A leader deficient in judgment and strategic thinking demonstrates rigid and inflexible thinking.

Self-awareness

Self-awareness requires the capacity to reflect and an interest in doing so. “Self-aware leaders know themselves, including their traits, feelings, and behaviors,” the manual says. “They employ self-understanding and recognize their effect on others.” When a leader lacks self-awareness, the manual notes, he “unfairly blames subordinates when failures are experienced” and “rejects or lacks interest in feedback.”

Empathy

Perhaps surprisingly, the field manual repeatedly stresses the importance of empathy as an essential attribute for Army leadership. A good leader “demonstrates an understanding of another person’s point of view” and “identifies with others’ feelings and emotions.” The manual’s description of inadequacy in this area: “Shows a lack of concern for others’ emotional distress” and “displays an inability to take another’s perspective.”

Edited July 6, 2017 by Highmark

[franks pond]

[xtralettucetomatoe580]

2 hours ago, Mainecat said:

As our Commander in Chief should Trump be held to every other military standard including the Army field manual of leadership?

Op-Ed

Is Trump mentally fit to be president? Let's consult the U.S. Army's field manual on leadership

(Susan Walsh / Associated Press)

Prudence L. Gourguechon

 

Since President Trump’s inauguration, an unusual amount of attention has been paid to the 25th Amendment to the Constitution. That's the measure, ratified in 1967, that allows for removal of the president in the event that he is "unable to discharge the powers and duties" of the office. What does that mean, exactly? Lawyers surely have some ideas. But as a psychiatrist, I believe we need a rational, thorough and coherent definition of the mental capacities required to carry out “the powers and duties” of the presidency.

Although there are volumes devoted to outlining criteria for psychiatric disorders, there is surprisingly little psychiatric literature defining mental capacity, even less on the particular abilities required for serving in positions of great responsibility. Despite the thousands of articles and books written on leadership, primarily in the business arena, I have found only one source where the capacities necessary for strategic leadership are clearly and comprehensively laid out: the U.S. Army’s “Field Manual 6-22 Leader Development.”

The New York Times published a letter signed by 35 psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers. The letter suggests Trump’s “grave emotional instability… makes him incapable of serving safely as president.” (Feb. 21, 2017)

 

 

The Army’s field manual on leadership is an extraordinarily sophisticated document, founded in sound psychological research and psychiatric theory, as well as military practice. It articulates the core faculties that officers, including commanders, need in order to fulfill their jobs. From the manual’s 135 dense pages, I have distilled five crucial qualities:

Trust

According to the Army, trust is fundamental to the functioning of a team or alliance in any setting: “Leaders shape the ethical climate of their organization while developing the trust and relationships that enable proper leadership.” A leader who is deficient in the capacity for trust makes little effort to support others, may be isolated and aloof, may be apathetic about discrimination, allows distrustful behaviors to persist among team members, makes unrealistic promises and focuses on self-promotion.

A good leader 'demonstrates an understanding of another person’s point of view' and 'identifies with others’ feelings and emotions.'

 

Discipline and self-control

The manual requires that a leader demonstrate control over his behavior and align his behavior with core Army values: “Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.” The disciplined leader does not have emotional outbursts or act impulsively, and he maintains composure in stressful or adverse situations. Without discipline and self-control, a leader may not be able to resist temptation, to stay focused despite distractions, to avoid impulsive action or to think before jumping to a conclusion. The leader who fails to demonstrate discipline reacts “viscerally or angrily when receiving bad news or conflicting information,” and he “allows personal emotions to drive decisions or guide responses to emotionally charged situations.”

In psychiatry, we talk about “filters” — neurologic braking systems that enable us to appropriately inhibit our speech and actions even when disturbing thoughts or powerful emotions are present. Discipline and self-control require that an individual has a robust working filter, so that he doesn’t say or do everything that comes to mind.

Judgment and critical thinking

These are complex, high-level mental functions that include the abilities to discriminate, assess, plan, decide, anticipate, prioritize and compare. A leader with the capacity for critical thinking “seeks to obtain the most thorough and accurate understanding possible,” the manual says, and he anticipates “first, second and third consequences of multiple courses of action.” A leader deficient in judgment and strategic thinking demonstrates rigid and inflexible thinking.

Self-awareness

Self-awareness requires the capacity to reflect and an interest in doing so. “Self-aware leaders know themselves, including their traits, feelings, and behaviors,” the manual says. “They employ self-understanding and recognize their effect on others.” When a leader lacks self-awareness, the manual notes, he “unfairly blames subordinates when failures are experienced” and “rejects or lacks interest in feedback.”

Empathy

Perhaps surprisingly, the field manual repeatedly stresses the importance of empathy as an essential attribute for Army leadership. A good leader “demonstrates an understanding of another person’s point of view” and “identifies with others’ feelings and emotions.” The manual’s description of inadequacy in this area: “Shows a lack of concern for others’ emotional distress” and “displays an inability to take another’s perspective.”

 

The Army field manual amounts to a guide for the 25^th Amendment. Whether a president’s Cabinet would ever actually invoke that amendment is another matter. There is, however, at least one historical precedent. The journalists Jane Mayer and Doyle McManus tell the dramatic story in their 1988 book, “Landslide: The Unmaking of the President 1984-1988.”Before he started his job as President Reagan’s third chief of staff, in early 1987, Howard Baker asked an aide, James Cannon, to put together a report on the state of the White House. Cannon then interviewed White House staff, including top aides working for the outgoing chief of staff, Donald Regan. On March 1, the day before Baker took over, Cannon presented him with a memo expressing grave concern that Reagan might not be sufficiently competent to perform his duties. Reagan was inattentive and disinterested, the outgoing staff had said, staying home to watch movies and television instead of going to work. “Consider the possibility that section four of the 25^th Amendment might be applied,” Cannon wrote.

After reading the memo, Baker arranged a group observation of Reagan for the following day. On March 2, Baker, Cannon and two others — Reagan’s chief counsel, Arthur B. Culvahouse Jr., and his communications director, Tom Griscom — scrutinized the president, first at a Cabinet meeting, then at a luncheon. They found nothing amiss. The president seemed to be his usual genial, engaged self. Baker decided, presumably with relief, that Reagan was not incapacitated or disabled and they could all go on with their business.

Much has changed since the Reagan era, of course. Because of Trump’s Twitter habits and other features of the contemporary media landscape, far more data about his behavior are available to everyone — to citizens, journalists and members of Congress. And we are all free to compare that observable behavior to the list of traits deemed critical for leadership by the U.S. Army.

Prudence L. Gourguechon, M.D., is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst in Chicago.

 

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-gourguechon-25th-amendment-leadership-mental-capacities-checklist-20170616-story.html

FM 6-22 is not a guide for the 25th Ammendment... Omg hahahahaha the LA Times, wtf?! Talk about incorrect cherry picking of Army Doctrine. Go ahead MC, ask me how I know... 

Just when I think the media and MC can't get dumber, here they/he goes. 

[revkevsdi]

1 hour ago, Mainecat said:

Trump is 12 years older Comrade

He cant find his limo in front of him with the big fuckin seal on it.

 

Even Trump knows he doesn't belong in the office. 

[Skidooski]

Just now, revkevsdi said:

Even Trump knows he doesn't belong in the office. 

What's that say about Hillary then?  

[revkevsdi]

1 hour ago, Highmark said:

I have to laugh when people like you supported a POTUS running around the WH getting head from a 22 yo girl, sticking a cigar in her private parts all the while his wife and young daughter were in the same building.   Then he tried to cover it up by offering her a job and asking people to lie during testimony.  The reality is people like you who supported Clinton staying in office are the ones who need to be examined.  

You poor pathetic Republican. Get pissed off about the President getting head, then you get pissed off about golf. And vacations. 

But you support a pussy grabber who golfs and takes vacation that put money in his own pocket.  He even increased the rates. A special screw the taxpayer rate. 

[Rod]

Revkevs vagina exploded again 

[Highmark]

14 minutes ago, revkevsdi said:

You poor pathetic Republican. Get pissed off about the President getting head, then you get pissed off about golf. And vacations. 

But you support a pussy grabber who golfs and takes vacation that put money in his own pocket.  He even increased the rates. A special screw the taxpayer rate. 

Nooks telling us about how we should think in US politics.   Not sure there is anything more pathetic than that.   What a waste of time.   Keep it up though.  

[revkevsdi]

On 2017-07-06 at 1:04 PM, Highmark said:

Nooks telling us about how we should think in US politics.   Not sure there is anything more pathetic than that.   What a waste of time.   Keep it up though.  

Not sure?  How about watching how pathetic 45 is at the g20. 

[SnowRider]

On 7/6/2017 at 11:47 AM, revkevsdi said:

You poor pathetic Republican. Get pissed off about the President getting head, then you get pissed off about golf. And vacations. 

But you support a pussy grabber who golfs and takes vacation that put money in his own pocket.  He even increased the rates. A special screw the taxpayer rate. 

 

On 7/6/2017 at 0:04 PM, Highmark said:

Nooks telling us about how we should think in US politics.   Not sure there is anything more pathetic than that.   What a waste of time.   Keep it up though.  

 

10 minutes ago, revkevsdi said:

Not sure?  How about watching how pathetic 45 is at the g20. 

Poor Skidmark   Canadian Kev 

 

 

 

Your boy 45 is a worldwide joke  

[Mainecat]

Bush was a better president.

[racinfarmer]

On 7/6/2017 at 11:44 AM, Skidooski said:

What's that say about Hillary then?