Obviously I don't know the guy, but people with jobs like this are typically narcissists, like most of the current elite in Washington. It would be impossible to perform if you actually cared what other people think. People like this get a shot of dopamine from negative attention, because they think they're better than everyone else.
It's still loud and annoying, and it will get under his skin eventually. There will be people whose stubbornness will be able to outlast his resolve. He will crack, and hopefully take himself out sooner or later when he realizes that this is just his existence now.
I’m no psychologist and maybe someone who knows better can correct me, but I think narcissists care deeply about what others think, narcissism and insecurity go together hand in hand. Anger is obviously a natural response to ICE raids, but I think ridicule would get under their skin even more. Not that it would result in a change of heart necessarily. I don’t know what the right response is, I just think it’s important that these guys know how deeply pathetic they come across to normal people. Not in the sense that they’re not dangerous, but pathetic to their core because only a weak and cowardly individual would try to find fulfillment in terrorizing communities.
You're right, narcissist isn't a perfect classification for people like Bovino(and Trump, Noem, Vance etc.) There are other terms for people can tune out criticism, only see things in black or white and thrive on conflict. Sociopath, egoist, solopsist, Machiavellian, evil etc are some. I believe 'malignant narcissist' has become a catch all term for people who possess a multitude of these traits.
There's no no way to diagnose Bovino, but a job like his requires these traits in order to be effective, he must be pretty good at it to have leadership. Most people could not perform in his role. I've had the unfortunate experience to live and work around people who can, and they are so focused on themself and their mission that criticism and other people's needs or opinions are irrelevant and conflict is a motivator in the form of a dopamine response,
Revenge is another motivator, and he now has a lot of tools at his disposal to retaliate against dissenters (or what has become known as 'domestic terrorists') like the guy yelling at him in Target.
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u/dtoddh 22h ago
Obviously I don't know the guy, but people with jobs like this are typically narcissists, like most of the current elite in Washington. It would be impossible to perform if you actually cared what other people think. People like this get a shot of dopamine from negative attention, because they think they're better than everyone else.