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Yes, unfortunately, similar to "vulnerability" (in a personal/relationship context), admitting mistake is often erroneously seen as weakness....when in fact, both are a sign of strength and emotional/intellectual security. Unfortunately, as you point out….1/
….the political climate has evolved into a perfect storm where a certain segment of society’s insecurity/anxiety has created a fertile and receptive environment for an equally and dysfunctionally insecure leader whose overcompensation is so great,….2/
...that it not only masks/compensates for his own feelings of inadequacy and insecurity, but there is enough left over to compensate (and provide shelter) for people who are fearful, insecure, and anxious about their place in a changing world. 3/
Their need for soothing sense of security is so great, it doesn’t matter that it comes from a fake tough guy exhibiting faux toughness, masculinity, Alpha-ness….as long as his fabricated existence & pathological dishonesty makes them feel good/secure. 4/
This is why the lying is not only accepted, but, because it has a positive effect on them, it is expected. As a result, a reciprocating echo chamber has been created where Trump’s lies and inflammatory actions alleviates fear/anxiety, and soothes and energizes his followers….5/
…the base, in return, amplifies and reflects the hostile energy (narcissistic supply) back to Trump….who then amplifies the rhetoric/hostile energy, and broadcasts it back to the base (a form of “collective narcissistic supply)…..and repeat. 6/
And any interruption in this process, results in the disruption of the alleviation of their mutual fear/anxiety/inadequacy. Since the echo chamber was built upon a pathological dishonesty, alternate realities, & revisionist histories…… 7/
…the “truth”, “facts”, & objective reality are all threats to the fragility of this echo chamber. As a result, Trump not only won’t, but can’t, stop lying……and his echo chamber-base not only does not want to, but can’t, hear the truth. 8/
This partly explains why the base not only doesn't care about Trump’s taxes or that he was helped by the Russians, but how/why, through their support, the base has become complicit in obstructing both the truth, as well as the administration of justice…9/
…Because the truth (that Trump is broke/in debt, is funded by Russian/mob money, or is an illegitimate president) threatens to pierce the echo chamber from which they rely so heavily on.10/
I’ve written about the “resource class” relying on & enabling Trump's dysfunction & corruption. And while most of his base isn't in the resource class, the sense of security they derive from his pathological dishonesty is a form of “resource” for them.11/
....A resource that has become so instrumental in their life that they are willing to sacrifice actual resources in order to preserve it 12/
Circling back to your point about admitting mistakes….when apologies or admitting a mistake is perceived as weakness……doing so (apologizing/admitting mistake) not only pierces the façade of infallibility and toughness….13/
…but as an admission or interjection of “truth”, it pierces and disrupts the echo chamber. As a result, there’s not is there a lack of incentive to speak honestly or with principle, but doing so has become political suicide. 14/
