Psychologist explains why some people refer to themselves in the third person as Donald Trump slammed for 'disgusting' comments
Topics: Donald Trump, Rob Reiner, Psychology, US News
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Pool
Topics: Donald Trump, Rob Reiner, Psychology, US News
Ever wondered why some people refer to themselves in the third person? Well, a psychologist is on hand to reveal all after Donald Trump was slammed for doing such.
While tributes poured in for Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, who were tragically found dead at their Los Angeles home on Sunday (December 14), the president was one of the few to criticize the famed Hollywood legend.
He wrote on Truth Social: "A very sad thing happened last night in Hollywood.
"Rob Reiner, a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star, has passed away, together with his wife, Michele, reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, sometimes referred to as TDS."
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Trump derangement syndrome is bizarrely a term used to describe negative reactions to the president.
The POTUS was asked about his comments by press at the White House, but he didn't back down and referred to himself in the third person.
"Well, I wasn’t a fan of his at all. He was a deranged person as far as Trump was concerned," he said. "I think he hurt himself career-wise. He became like a deranged person – Trump Derangement Syndrome.
"So I was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all, in any way, shape or form. I thought he was very bad for our country."
Viewers were quick to pick up Trump's use of the third person, with one calling his comments 'disgusting' and writing: "Why does he speak in 3rd person? It's rather odd."
Another said: "He's always done that and it's always been bizarre."
Professor Aleksandra Cichocka, of the University of Kent, has explained why some people have this unique way of speaking about themselves.
"I think people often assume that those who are arrogant or feel superior would frequently refer to themselves in their speech but research to date offers limited evidence for this," she said.
"No links have been found between narcissism (a personality trait associated with feelings of grandiosity) and distanced self-talk (i.e., using second or third-person pronouns)."
A study by the experts over at the University of Arizona found narcissism is unrelated to using first-person singular pronouns as well.
However, among politicians, it's believed the act is more associated with first-person plurals, such as 'we-talk'.
"Why would people then engage in speaking about themselves in third-person? Recent research shows that people are more likely to do it in situations when they feel critical of themselves or when they want to make themselves feel better," Cichocka added.
You learn something new every day!