Shame and Humiliation

"Steinberg's perceptive analysis of the ways in which the personalities of three presidents have affected some of their most crucial decisions in these wars will be especially rewarding for all of those puzzled by their irrationality." George McT. Kahin is professor emeritus of international studies, Centre for Advanced Research on Southeast Asia, Cornell University. "Extremely impressive. Steinberg's study succeeds where so many other psychobiographies have failed. Drawing on the disciplines of political science and psychodynamic theory, Shame and Humiliation illustrates the value of comparative analysis of leaders who do (LBJ and Nixon) and who do not (Eisenhower) exhibit the so-called 'malignant' narcissistic character. Steinberg's position regarding the role of narcissistic personality factors, drawn from Kohutian theory, is carefully stated and circumscribed so that she avoids the familiar pitfall of psychological reductionism." Alexander George, Department of Political Science, Stanford University. "Steinberg makes an impressive case that presidential decision making may be influenced not only by cognitive mind-sets and beliefs, but also by psychodynamic variables. Shame and Humiliation is innovative in its interpretation, carefully argued, well researched, and engaging to read." Janice Stein, Department of Political Science, University of Toronto. "Steinberg meticulously studies political events and convincingly illustrates how a leader's internal and external worlds often intertwine to give directions to historical developments. This work is an original and significant addition to literature on leadership and decision making that will provoke healthy interdisciplinary discussion about the usefulness of personality studies in political science and history." Vamik D. Volkan, Director of the Center for the Study of Mind and Human Interaction, University of Virginia.