To be, or not to be: Part VI--Brand Meets Personality

 Here's the detailed explanation of of why Trumpsters tolerate the whimpering, mendacity, and Sibyl-like noxious theater that is the Donald. Projective identification and shaping will be taken up individually to answer the question.

Keep in mind my classmate's definition of projective identification (Part V--Psychology 601)-"buying into what other people put on you"-as we look at these questions: What is Trump putting on his supporters? What are they buying in to, and why?

It would be difficult not to notice that Trump projects "New Yorker". (And I say this as a former Brooklynite.)   What I mean, of course, is that he typically speaks in an unvarnished and fairly forward fashion. But the Donald has, of late, subtlely widened the scope of his presentation. His topics are far more frequently fodder for the working class now, and occasionally even prurient (see Musings on 3/4: Applied Clinton-Speak). Further, his delivery has become considerably more intense and forceful, just over the last year. (And I've been watching Trump since the 1980s.)

Why the change? Remember that the early exit poll data showed his typical supporter to be a first-time voter over age 45, with a high school diploma or less, who is politically independent, ideologically moderate to somewhat conservative, and quite angry (Part IV--The Composite). [Analyses of later contests have confirmed the accuracy of this amalgamation, though a male skew among Trumpsters has become apparent.] So, simply said, he is becoming who his supporters are. This far surpasses purposeful pandering, and is a manifestation of the lack of identity at the core of the narcissist (Part II--On the Couch).

Amassing more power fills the identity vacuum and, for now, his cheering minions are serving that purpose. Or, in jargon-ese, Trump's initial projection of "New York style" is being expanded and amplified because of his symbiotic orientation to his supporters.

Next, we'll take a look at what Trump's supporters are "buying into"...

To be, or not to be: Part II--On the Couch

The answer starts with Trump's personality. His public behavior is that of a classic narcissist--grandiose and entitled; lacking empathy and interpersonally manipulative; endlessly seeking success ("winning"), power, control and adulation. 

Many of these can be quite easily seen. For instance, the sheer longevity of his complaining about having been "treated unfairly" by the media suggests that Trump believes himself entitled to questions at the level of, say, a twelfth grade class president debate. That he seems to believe he can lie with impunity also speaks to his over-inflated sense of entitlement. 

One only has to consider his comments about his ex-wives during his divorces, and more recently about Mexicans immigrating illegally, Megyn Kelly's menstrual cycle, and Carly Fiorina's face, for just a bit of the nauseating proof of his lack of empathy that's out there. The wealth and empire that he's built over time more than adequately speak to his long pursuit of success and power. Similarly, Trump's incessant self-referential talk about winning, and being a winner, clearly illustrates his grandiosity and need for adulation. 

You might be wondering what all of this has to do with the reason Trump's supporters don't push back at his whining, skullduggery and offensive style. The answer continues with a look at who Trumpsters really are...