Title: Shame and humiliation
Subtitle: presidential decision making on Vietnam
First published: 1996
Description: Blema Steinberg identifies the narcissistic personality as intensely self-involved and preoccupied with success and recognition as a substitute for parental love. She asserts that narcissistic leaders are most likely to use force when they fear being humiliated for failing to act and when they need to restore their diminished sense of self-worth.

Providing case studies of Johnson, Nixon, and Eisenhower, Steinberg describes the childhood, maturation, and career of each president, documenting key personality attributes, and then discusses each one's Vietnam policy in light of these traits. She contends that Johnson authorized the bombing of Vietnam in part because he feared the humiliation that would come from inaction, and that Nixon escalated U.S. intervention in Cambodia in part because of his low sense of self-esteem.

Steinberg contrasts these two presidents with Eisenhower, who was psychologically secure and was, therefore, able to carry out a careful and thoughtful analysis of the problem he faced in Indochina.
Subjects: Politics and government, Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975, Vietnam War, 1961-1975, United States, Psychological aspects of Vietnam War, 1961-1975, Psychological aspects, Psychological aspects of Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975, Vietnam War, Psychology, Prise de décision, Présidents, Aspect psychologique, Politique et gouvernement, Guerre du Viêt-nam, 1961-1975, Military, Psychologie, HISTORY, United states, politics and government, 1963-1969, United states, politics and government, 1969-1974, Vietnam war, 1961-1975, united states, Vietnam war, 1961-1975, psychological aspects, United states, politics and government, 20th century
Places: United States
Time periods: 20th century
LC classification: DS558 .S737 1996