Douglas MacArthur - Upon Reflection

Book excerpt: General-of-the-Army Douglas MacArthur was a complex man whose behaviors seem contradictory on the surface. In fact, he demonstrated an enduring pattern of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about himself and his environment. This consistent personality is evident across a wide range of social and personal contexts and can be traced back to his developmental childhood and adolescent years. This research recounts MacArthur’s personality development from childhood, investigates his last military campaign, and, finally, applies the diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder to the assembled data. Upon reflection, MacArthur’s apparent behavioral inconsistencies are reconciled within this clinical framework. Finally, organizational, heuristic and predictive implications are drawn from this research. Academic and operational military uses are suggested.