Hubris syndrome: symptoms, treatment, what is it?

Is he mad? The question comes back on all the lips of the populations who attend, dumbfounded, the war led by the Russian president Vladimir Putin in Ukraine since the end of February. A lot of rumors circulating on his state of health: cancer, Parkinson’s disease…None have been confirmed. Lately, doctors who observed it evoked the possibility of Hubris syndrome. narcissism, arrogancethe lying and handling are part of its characteristics. Discovery.

Definition: what is Hubris syndrome?

Hubris syndrome is a personality disorder, not a mental illness. “Hubris” (or “hybris”) in ancient Greek meant “excess” and in English “Pride”. This syndrome is inextricably linked to power, it is a prerequisite. When power passes, the syndrome lessens. A “hubristic” personality is particularly common among heads of government. In psychoanalysis, we speak of “hubris syndrome” when a person shows “narcissism, arrogance, pretentiousness, egotism, even manipulation, lies and contempt” in reaction to his power. This person has the feeling of being invulnerable and having omnipotence.

What are the symptoms of Hubris syndrome?

Several behavioral symptoms are associated with Hubris syndrome. According to the doctor and former English minister David Owen, you must have at least three or four of the following list to be considered to have this syndrome:

• Narcissistic propensity to see the world as an arena in which to exercise power and seek glory
• Predisposition to engage in actions likely to present themselves in a favorable light, i.e. to embellish one’s image
• Disproportionate appeal for image and appearance
• Messianic way of talking about what one does with a tendency to exaltation in speech and manners
• Identification of oneself with the nation insofar as the perspectives and interests of the two are identical.
• Tendency to talk about oneself in the third person or use “we”
• Excessive reliance on own judgment and disregard for the advice or criticism of others.
• Exaggerated self-confidence, bordering on a feeling of omnipotencein what they can achieve personally.
• Conviction that instead of being responsible to public opinion, the only tribunal to which he will have to answer will be that of history often accompanied by an unshakable conviction that in this tribunal they will be vindicated
• Restlessness, carelessness and impulsiveness.
• Loss of touch with reality, often associated with progressive isolation
• Tendency to give importance to one’s “vision”, to one’s choice, which avoids considering the practical aspects or evaluating the costs and undesirable consequences.
• Incompetence, when things go wrong because excessive self-confidence has led the leader to neglect the usual workings of politics, of law.

Symptoms usually subside when the person no longer exerts power. It is less likely to develop in modest people, open to criticism, who have a certain cynicism or a well-developed sense of humor.

Who can be affected by Hubris syndrome?

Hubris syndrome is particularly common among government leaders but it can affect any other person in private life, at work… and manifest at any age. In his book “In Sickness and in power”, the English doctor David Owen considers that the following four heads of government have developed this pride syndrome: Lloyd George,
Margaret Thatcher, George W. Bush and Tony Blair. In March 2022, doctors who observed the attitude of the Russian president Vladimir Poutineat war with Ukraine, believes that he has it.

What are the treatments for Hubris syndrome?

There is no “medicinal” treatment to “cure” Hubris syndrome. According to Dr. David Owen, the symptoms usually subside when the person no longer exerts power. She would also have to be surrounded by critics to counter her feeling of absolute “omnipotence”.

Sources:

Hubris-syndrome. David Owen. ClinMed 2008;8:428–32

In Sickness and in Power: Illnesses in Heads of Government During the Last 100 Years Hardcover – May 30, 2008. David Owen.