Psychological Analysis Reveals Trump's Motivation Behind Controversial Actions
A psychotherapist has provided a detailed psychological explanation for Donald Trump's series of controversial and erratic actions throughout his presidency and beyond, revealing they stem from deep-seated personality traits rather than sudden behavioural changes.
The Pattern of Behaviour Explained
Psychotherapist Marygrace Anderson told The Mirror US that Trump's recent unpredictable actions can be psychologically contextualised by examining his long-established leadership and communication style rather than viewing them as abrupt departures from normal behaviour.
From a psychological perspective, Trump's motivations originate from "a preference for stimulation, visibility, and control of narrative rather than traditional institutional restraint," Anderson explained.
She elaborated: "Throughout his public life, he has consistently relied on high-intensity rhetoric, rapid shifts in messaging, and confrontation as tools to command attention, energize supporters, and dominate the media cycle."
Recent Controversial Actions
In recent weeks, Trump has demonstrated this pattern through several high-profile incidents:
- Claiming Norway was responsible for him not winning the Nobel Peace Prize
- Overseeing a major US military operation capturing Venezuela's president
- Unveiling proposals for a government-enforced ban preventing college football matches clashing with the annual Army-Navy fixture
According to CBS, Trump penned a letter to Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stating: "Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper' for the US."
Psychological Mechanisms at Play
Anderson explained that these behaviours serve important psychological functions for Trump: "What may appear as chaos can function internally as coherence, actions aligned with a core self-image of strength, defiance, and opposition to perceived elites or systems."
The psychotherapist added: "It is also useful to understand these behaviours through the lens of identity reinforcement under pressure. When individuals with strong, well-defined self-concepts face legal, political, or reputational threats, they often intensify familiar patterns rather than adapt new ones."
The DARVO Pattern
Sidney Blumenthal identified one of Trump's recurring behaviours as a recognised manipulation technique known as Deny, Attack, Reverse victim and offender (DARVO).
Prior to May 2023, when Trump was found liable for sexually abusing E Jean Carroll, he dismissed her claims as fabricated, insisting "she's not my type."
Blumenthal wrote: "All the elements of Darvo, his familiar pattern, were present in his deflection. He denied the incident occurred: 'I've never met this person in my life.' He attacked her: 'Shame on those who makeup false stories of assault to try to get publicity for themselves or sell a book or carry out a political agenda.' And he turned the tables to make himself the victim and her the aggressor deserving of punishment: 'People should pay dearly for such false accusations.'"
Legal and Political Context
Among Trump's numerous controversies are four criminal prosecutions, including allegations he attempted to capitalise on the Capitol riot of 6 January 2021, plus the notorious moment he boasted to TV presenter Billy Bush about his approach to women.
In 2025, addressing the criminal proceedings against him, he declared: "The case against me was b*******," and claimed Joe Biden was attempting to destroy him.
Recent Revelations and Responses
Last November, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee published correspondence between Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving two decades behind bars for sex trafficking.
In the messages, Epstein writes to Maxwell: "I want you to realize that that dog that hasn't barked is Trump.. [VICTIM] spent hours at my house with him."
Republicans subsequently claimed the release was a Democratic attempt to "cherry-pick" documents and "create a fake narrative to slander President Trump."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the emails were "selectively leaked" by House Democrats to "liberal media to create a fake narrative to smear President Trump."
Psychological Context Versus Judgment
Anderson emphasised the distinction between psychological explanation and moral judgment: "Finally, psychological context does not equate to endorsement or condemnation; it offers explanatory distance. Human behaviour, particularly in high-stakes political environments, is shaped by stress, reinforcement loops, audience feedback, and long-standing personality traits."
She concluded: "Viewing recent events through this framework allows for a more measured public discourse - one that emphasizes understanding over reaction, and analysis over escalation."
