Former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton Denies Addiction or Need for Power

After former Memphis Mayor Herenton suggested he may run in the interim election to replace himself, many media persons and citizens responded by questioning whether he was mentally stable. This prompted the former mayor to defend his mental stability (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/aug/14/herenton-my-state-mind-real-good/).

In defending himself, the former mayor suggested he had changed his mind about resigning. He stated that he changed his mind because of decisions that he saw taking place at City Hall. He feared that these decisions would not be in the city’s best interest. Thus, the situation called for him to step back in to resume his role as mayor even as he was running for a congressional seat in Washington.

So why are so many focusing on whether his behavior is indicative of mental illness? Whenever behavior is otherwise inexplicable, it is common for folks to suggest that the answer to the behavior lies in mental illness. Psychologists view mental illness differently. Mental illness is seen as a pattern of behavior that is demonstrated consistently over time. Anxiety or depression interferes with the individual’s mood for months or even years. Drug and alcohol abuse or dependence is demonstrated by a pattern of behavior, not by the dire consequences of one night of substance abuse.

When former mayor Herenton suggested he did not have a need for power, he seemed to address whether he has a personality disorder. Most likely he is saying he does not have a narcissistic personality disorder. This is characterized by at least five of the following characteristics:
A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
1.Has a grandiose sense of self-importance
2.Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance,beauty or ideal love (megalomania)
3.Believes they are "special" and can only be understood by, or should associate with, people (or institutions) who are also "special" or of high status
4.Requires excessive admiration
5.Has a sense of entitlement
6.Is interpersonally exploitative
7.Lacks empathy
8.Is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her
9.Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

The question is not whether Dr. Herenton has shown these patterns in this situation, but whether he has shown this pattern over the course of his adulthood? To accuse him of mental illness based on behavior that you do not understand is disrespectful to all of those who suffer a lifetime of mental illness.