Jeffrey Donaldson sentencing: Psychologist sees signs of 'dark triad' of personality traits in ex-DUP leader
Disgraced ex-MP Jeffrey Donaldson has displayed signs "the dark triad" of personality traits through his predatory behaviour and refusal to accept responsibility for his crimes, a high-profile psychologist has said.
Portadown psychologist Dr Arthur Cassidy, a national commentator on political psychology, was speaking to the News Letter after the former MP was sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing two women when they were children.
Dr Cassidy noted court reports of how Donaldson kept tabs on his victims confiding in authority figures and attempted to close matters down with private apologies.
"There's an underlying pathology and personality attached to any form of predator," Dr Cassidy told the News Letter, suggesting that this type of behaviour could fit the profile of psychopathy.
"You get this underlying trait of people, there is no remorse, and there is a dark triad operating.”
He defined the dark triad as a combination of Machiavellianism, Narcissism and Psychopathy.
"In my opinion, a dark triad obviously operating in his life here. He is controlling - there's a power - this Machiavellianism, where you can manipulate and control others, especially their emotionality."
The apparent “lack of remorse” was a significant indicator, he said, linking it to what he described as an “underlying dark narcissism”.
Machiavellianism, he explained, involves a desire for power and the manipulation of others, particularly their emotions and vulnerabilities.
Machiavellianism gives a sense that "I must do this", and it has "a power motive, a darkness that is hard to control, to manipulate on the emotions of the others, especially the vulnerable”.
However, Dr Cassidy said the most outstanding factor in Donaldson's case was what he described as "cognitive dissonance" which he said was a conflict between one's core beliefs and actions.
He said this conflict could be seen in the contrast between Donaldson's public identity and his private behaviour.
On the one had he would have seen himself as a Christian, an Orangeman and a church member.
“This is a projection of the self and a core part of his identity, then behind that there is distant relationship with the hidden self, with which it is in constant conflict. So he would be moving over the years between those two, juggling around both personas."
Dr Cassidy also had a message of hope and healing for people who have suffered similar abuse.
"I believe they should come forward to police and be open about this, because you really have a moral obligation to free yourself from this what has happenened and this entrapment," he said.
"You will be cared for and be able to put your life back together again. There will be alot of specialist help there to rehabilitate yourself."