The "Siamese Twins" of PSYCHOSIS & NARCISSISM

PSYCHOSIS [sahy-koh-sis] - noun, plural psychoses [-seez]: 1) A mental disorder characterized by symptoms, such as delusions or hallucinations, that indicate impaired contact with reality.  2) Any severe form of mental disorder, as schizophrenia or paranoia. 

NARCISSISM [nahr-suh-siz-em]: 1) Inordinate fascination with oneself; excessive self-love; vanity. Synonyms: self-centeredness, smugness, egocentrism.  2) Psychoanalysis: erotic gratification derived from admiration of one's own physical or mental attributes, being a normal condition at the infantile level of personality development.

Psychosis & Narcissism are the two most common traits of cult leaders or cult type figures who are masters at manipulating the emotions and hopes of others to accept their psychosis as some great vision or they themselves as some great leader above and beyond that of others with similar or the same concerns and focus. It can often result in a "messiah syndrome" where a very charismatic and highly intelligent individual emerges during a time of desperation among distressed, oppressed, or afflicted people in great need of solutions and direction. Such individuals appear to offer desirable leadership while constantly referring to themselves in conceited and over gratuitous terms like "king, prince, queen, princess, the one", and other phrases that convey these elevated ideas of themselves. They may also allude to such things as them having a "throne" or "crown", and even compare themselves to great figures of the past who they may claim some connection to or to have received some type of mystical inheritance from to make them more special and unique than their contemporaries. Their narcissism often goes unquestioned and overlooked by those who support them because of their deep desire to believe for something better. 

2nd PETER 2:1-3 & 18-19 (ESV); "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. ²⁾ And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. ³⁾ And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. ¹⁸⁾ For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. ¹⁹⁾ They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved."  #PSYCHOSIS #LEADERS 

Even those who seem more grounded and claim not to believe in the individual as a "messiah" figure but agree with or believe in their message will not do or say anything to contradict or conflict the individual's delusion, nor to protect the more gullible or innocent followers in order to help maintain unity in following the psychoses of their leader for the sake of achieving the vision. This makes it easier to excuse any lapse or lack of character by the false messiah, and insulates them behind a wall of fanatical or complacent followers from accountability while giving them impunity to do as they please as long as they deliver in some semblance what they promised. Their psychosis & narcissism seems to affect their following who will defend them at almost any cost against any detractors. They will quote their leader as if he/she is speaking divine scripture, and their emotional attachment combined with their intellectual disconnect makes it nearly impossible for them to recognize their own "cognitive dissonance". If others point out these detrimental behaviors they are often labeled as "traitors, agents, coons, sellouts, haters", and other derogatory terms to try and discourage them from speaking out in truth against or in correcting the self appointed "chosen one". Beware of who you choose to follow.  ~ I.J. West 

2nd TIMOTHY 3:1-7 (KJV); "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. ²⁾ For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³⁾ Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, ⁴⁾ Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; ⁵⁾ Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. ⁶⁾ For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ⁷⁾ Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."  #NARCISSISM  #LEADERSHIP

(*Definitions taken from Dictionary.com)