Inside the Minds of Rod Blagojevich and Bernie Madoff
The brazenness of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich allegedly attempting to sell a U.S. Senate seat and securities trader Bernie Madoff allegedly bilking investors (including charities) of about $50 billion in a Ponzi scheme may seem inexplicable. But having evaluated dozens of white-collar criminals and very violent offenders over the past decade (and having testified about them in local, state and federal courts), I’ve realized many of them share recognizable psychological characteristics with convicted murderer Scott Peterson. Peterson, you will recall, is the Modesto, California man who murdered his wife Laci and his unborn child Conner in the midst of an affair with massage therapist Amber Frey, then helped lead the search for his victims.
Like Scott Peterson, Blagojevich and Madoff (if guilty) have to possess a sense of narcissistic entitlement that allows them to feel justified in manipulating others to their ends. Probably to hide internal feelings of unworthiness, weakness, or impotence, such men (or, in other cases, women—including, perhaps, Blagojevich’s wife) create an over-inflated sense of self. Their minds build towering fortresses of ego immune to the reticence most of us would feel about putting ourselves first and everyone else second.
The narcissistic traits of Peterson, Blagojevich and Madoff (none of whom I interviewed) mean that they not only feel entitled to live special lives that don’t include following rules — they may well believe they are so intelligent or clever that they will never be caught breaking those rules. That partly explains the outlandish nature of each man’s behavior.
Peterson fashioned his own cement anchors to weigh down his wife’s body in the San Francisco Bay. It didn’t occur to him that making anchors and taking his boat out on the bay might implicate him in the disappearance of Laci.
Blagojevich challenged authorities to monitor him and even reportedly wheeled and dealed on a telephone he knew was tapped.
Madoff delivered outsized returns to his clients every year, apparently not worried about the fact that doing so seemed impossible to some. In his own mind, he was that special. He never lost — until it was all over.
Narcissism, however, doesn’t explain all of Scott Peterson’s murderous violence or Blagojevich’s and Madoff’s alleged schemes to sell a piece of the United States government or steal money. There also has to be a failure to recognize both the importance of the rule of law and a failure of empathy. All three men were seemingly unmoved by the rights or the suffering of others. To steal a life may seem wholly unrelated to stealing someone’s life savings or someone’s vote, but they are closer cousins than you might believe.
Unfortunately, the outsized nature of what is likely the Peterson-Blagojevich-Madoff brand of personality structure attracts, rather than repels people. Peterson had no shortage of women. Blagojevich had no shortage of voters. And Madoff had no shortage of investors. They seem so certain of everything, so much larger than anything that might contain them, that they seduce mere mortals, burdened as we are by self-doubt and respect for others — and a respect for our society and the rule of law.
Dr. Ablow is a Fox News contributor and the author of the New York Times bestseller “Inside the Mind of Scott Peterson
Tags: Add new tag, Amber Frey, Bernie Madoff, Dr. Keith Ablow, economy, empathy, Laci Peterson, narcissism, Ponzi scheme, Rod Blagojevich, Scott Peterson, U.S. Senate
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I agree with Dr Ablow regarding the abnormal psychology of these criminals. However, I believe that too much time & energy are wasted in analyzing these individuals. After a complete determination has been made as to the extent of their damage; the justice system must be wielded in a way so as to put these individuals out of business PERMANENTLY. Past experience with these sociopaths rules out giving them a second chance. Retribution is the only course.
It would be interesting to run all three men (and may I add Drew Peterson to the list)*
Through Dr. Hare’s PCL-R.
These people go beyond narcissism. I also recognize that Dr. Ablow, for public record,
has to say what’s in the relm of only the obvious without otherwise sufficient psychological testing. But most of us are
familiar with the word P——-H. Ten letters. Some are violent. Some are not.
And Dr. Ablow also knows they tend not to respond to treatment.
* Same last names– no relation. Pure coincidence
The Chairman of the SEC, Christopher Cox, should be fired over this Madoff thing. Classic case of headinassen desease.
I’m just curious, what proportion of men like these are criminals because of developmental issues compared to genetic wiring? I would imaging it would be a little of both but what is your opinion?
If convicted, these scumbags shold spend the rest of thier pathetic lives in prison.
Drew Peterson fits into this category and there are many others on a smaller but soon larger scale.
As usual, Dr. Ablow is correct. This is akin to Dr. M. Scott Peck’s definition of true evil in his book The Road Less Traveled: a total lack of empathy, massive Narcissism (on the level of personality disorder), and a pointing to the evils of others — i.e., in the case of Blagojevich — as a protective coating of self-righteousness. When you boil it down, these are the personalitty elements of a bully, pure and simple. Anytime some large crimes like these happen, people are always curious about the personality willing to do such, and this article — wonderfully informative and readable — has fully satisfied that curiosity.
I’mso glad I found your articles, Doctor.
Jailtime for these guys? No. More like public execution. It’s not like they stole a pencil from work, cheated on their income tax, or something else of a minor, common occurence. They were/are in positions of great respect, authority, influence, and responsibility – husband, governor, investor. What makes the situations of these three people more frightening is the prospect that there are plenty more like them in the world who haven’t been caught. Public execution of these animals won’t eradicate others like them and the problems and woes they create for the rest of us, but it will definitely make them think twice.
It is terrible what Maddoff has done and I feel bad for everyone who has been taken by this Ponzi Scheme… I know of a person who invested money granted from a suit for “loss of a limb”. She was taken in a Ponzi Scheme from a group of brothers claiming to do Gods work out of Franklin, Tn. My question is why was Madoff arrested and his name made known to the public so no one else would lose their money? And the same kind of crooks from Franklin, Tn. have not been touched? They are still taking money from people and using the “Christian” label to do so! Could it be because of the amount of money? Who is to say that 50 billion is more hurtful than 100’s of thousands? The FBI should take them ALL off the streets! This kind of crime is devastating to anyone, who has been taken, no matter the amount!
In other words, many successful politicians and business people share the same psychopathic tendancies with murders and rapists.
They share similar psychopathic traits: Highly successful politicians, business tycoons, murderers and rapists.
Your article is right on but misses the fact that punishmet is too little for all three individuals. Peterson should be hanged, Blong should be immediately removed from office and sent to jail if convicted, Madoff should not be allowed bail under any circumstances yet there is, out on bail.
What a shame.
I agree with Dr. Ablow’s analysis, but I think there’s more:
I think there’s a “to he_ _ with it” attitude in our society that is fostered by the very nature of our society(mass, impersonal, etc.). The media helps to feed this attitude. Also, again, partially due to the mass, impersonal nature of our society, there’s a perception that “others do these things”, and that people who don’t take what they can are merely “chumps” in the game of life. There is also the deal-making aspect within the criminal justice system.
I think, unfortunately, our society fosters cynicism and these actors’ cynical views toward others enable them to rationalize their own behavior and live with themselves.
Harry Toder
Another factor no mentioned is the political environment of Chicago and the state of Illinois and their long association with the “mob”. The criminal mentatlity has no ethic parameters, greed and power are the only guidelines for behavior in this environment. It is almost a cultural makeup of the political environment. This was also the case in Louisiana under Huey Long, as long as the public gets taken care of the end justifies the means. This has long been the voter mentality that keeps such criminals in office. Now this cultural abberation is spreading throughout the nation.
If this is allowed to continue without retribution our country and our freedoms will be eroded to benefit the greedy in the name of personal benefit.
Unfortunately, this “narcissism” is the overriding attribute of today’s youth – our society has taught it’s children that the “me” is all there is – there is no need to sacrifice (or care about) “the other”.
It doesn’t bode well for the future of the USA.
Robert Light
http://www.IMovedOn.org
0bama has the same traits too.
It appears to me that our politicians in Washington, D. C. (and locally) have the “Peterson-Blagojevich-Madoff brand of personality structure” that attracts, rather than repels people.
They may well believe they are more intelligent or clever than the public that elected them. They assume that they will never be caught breaking those rules that they are largely responsible for making.
A strong desire to climb the ladder of success accompanied by a complete lack of conscience will produce people like this. It’s not the cream that rises to the top in the septic tank!
What they all have in common is a system (people) around them that ignored all the facts. The same thing happened when our politicians ignored the obvious train wreck in the banking industry. Concious incompetence. Blago has survived in a corrupt system that has sent three past gov. to prison and yet it was of no deterence to him. We can only change this system when we stop electing these people and those in the criminal justice system that look the other way.
Bill Clinton was the first narcissist I had seen, I was driven to study that character disorder as the rules did not apply to him, even under oath and he was blindingly oblivious to the shattered lives,image,legacy. Not to forget Leona Helmsley, first female I was aware of. Madoff I am amazed at, I believe (d) that there are protections and objective reviews of people who manage that kind of money; for him to have been able to run such a scheme for so long is fearful.
Blago and his wife are well-matched. These are interesting times.
Re: ” They seem so certain of everything, so much larger than anything that might contain them, that they seduce mere mortals,…” This statement reminds one somehow of Obama. How do these people cross the line from simple ego-narcissists to criminals? It appears the difference is that one steals outside the law, the other within the parameters of the law. Thieving is thieving, and requires remorseless audacity in any case.
don’t worry guys! Madoff gets his own version of jail- his $7 mil Park Ave apartment! Let’s go over this again: if you are convicted of felony pety theft (over $500 & we are usually talking about burglary by a druggy in search for the next high) and the schmuck does it three times (stupid yes) he gets 25 to life- three strikes and you are out buddy!!! but if you scam people out of $50 bil- you get a slap on the wrist. OK, so he may get more… but what about Fuld? Someone punched him in a sportsclub (allegedly) big deal!
….sounds like many of the traits held by Barack Hussein Obama and his wife, Michelle as well.
I disagree about Obama being in this group. He has shown humility and encourages input from others. Now he is forming a cabinet that includes people of different views and the opposing party. He may be confident or even elitist, but he is not narcissisitic in the clinical sense (as opposed to egotistical as some would define the term). It is not all about him, nor does he suffer from delusions of grandeur obscuring his ability to see his actions as wrong or himself as ever in doubt – unlike the others mentioned here. And he is not isolating himself to keep the fantasy alive. Yes, I would add Drew Peterson to the list with Rod, Bernie, and Scott. Sociopaths all, I think, unable to feel empathy or care about the repercussions of their actions, or others’ feelings. And always in the right as long as it works for them – at any cost. Interesting connection between these political/financial types and criminals. A fine line I’m sure.
I wonder if eventually we’ll be adding our president-elect to this “elite” list. Carried into office on a wave of voter registration fraud, credit card fraud and campaign finance fraud, and willing to throw any of his associates under the bus when it suits his ambitions, he seems to have the same outlandish sense of entitlement. Laws don’t apply to him, and he certainly has shown no compassion toward those who he has abandoned (not that their actions compel me to feel sorry for them.)
And now that he has reached the pinnacle of the cult of personality, he has the nerve to be pissy with the inevitable paparazzi who try to get pictures of him on vacation. Reap what you sow, baby!
I experienced this behavior in public school years ago. The queen bee of the social set, who was very bright, cheated her way through high school and manipulated teachers and faculty to help her quash any competition in extracurricular activities. In retrospect, I realized that she must have been painfully lacking in a sense of self-worth.
Unfortunately, we have a whole generation of youngsters who are being brainwashed to feel a sense of entitlement. The incessant messages of “you’re special” bring to mind the adage: Beware of your thoughts, because they become words. Beware of your words because they become actions. Beware of your actions because they become habit. Beware of your habits because they become character. And now we have a president-elect with a true personality disorder.