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NJLJ: "Why Do Lawyers Lie? One Word: Narcissism"

By John Wesley Hall, Jr.

An interesting article by Arthur D. Burger, New Jersey Law Journal: Why Do Lawyers Lie? One Word: Narcissism: Ratner explains that extremely narcissistic people are so "needy for the affirmation of success," that the idea of losing is seen as unbearable. They will therefore use the psychological defenses of "rationalization" and "denial" to enable themselves to intentionally mislead -- and even lie -- if they believe that is the only way to win. Ratner states that as a result of this rationalization and denial, they do not see themselves as having done anything wrong. Instead, they see themselves as justified , because they were acting for a "higher purpose." He explains that the power of rationalization can be enormous. It can even be seen in such horribly extreme examples as when the killing of innocent civilians by terrorists is seen as "heroic...continue to full post

Full post as published by Law Of Criminal Defense on August 22, 2008 (boomark / email).