2016 May 17^th

This morning on a cable network we had a Trump attorney commenting on the “New York Times” article about Donald Trump and his behavior toward women. Initially Trump claimed he would sue the “Times.” Now, Michael Cohen, Trump’s attorney, says Trump will settle for an apology. If this went to trial just imagine what a bucket of problems Trump would have sitting in a witness chair testifying under oath. No, I’m sure there will be no law suit by the Trump folks against the “New York Times.”

Mr. Cohen, Trump’s lawyer had excuses for Trump’s insulting comments.  Cohen insisted that Trump’s sexist remarks about women “were taken out of context.” That’s always a potential out when you’re trying to excuse some client’s gaffe; just say that his remarks were taken out of context. So when Trump calls Rosie O’Donnell “a fat pig” and “a slob,” or says of Carly Fiorina, “can you imagine that as the face of our next president?” or Arianna Huffington “with the face of a dog;” in exactly what context would these comments be acceptable? Unfortunately, Chris Cuomo, the show’s anchor, didn’t think to ask that question of Michael Cohen. Aren’t anchors supposed to be able to think on their feet? Could he have connections?

Trump claims that he wishes to be unpredictable. There is a lot of evidence that people who must deal with others who are unpredictable become very anxious. This is hardly surprising: a boss who is friendly and accommodating one day and an ogre the next does not make for a happy employee. You can deal with an ogre if you must, but not knowing what you must deal with can be hard to accommodate. Trump’s unpredictability manages to keep the people he deals with off balance. This, then, makes them easier for Trump to manipulate.

Is Trump’s unpredictability deliberate or is it the result of a quite different problem, lack of impulse control? Most children learn impulse control gradually, getting progressively better at it as they grow up. A few continue to have problems with it, particularly those whom we now describe as intellectually or mentally challenged. Then, later in life, we find that stroke victims often suffer from the same problem.

Trump seems to pride himself on not being “politically correct.” But what is political correctness but impulse control? You do not mock the handicapped (as Trump did with a handicapped reporter); you do not call your opponents names that would be expected from a third grade bully. Impulse control is essentially the ability to inhibit. Without that ability  we quickly return to savagery.