In that regard, former U.S. president George W. Bush may share some of the consequences of having been born into a privileged family. His characteristic
"swagger" and defiance to objective criticisms, all the while displaying a degree of intellectual ignorance rarely witnessed among heads of states (at least in the free world)
may be the product of a privileged upbringing in conjunction with the unconscious realization that he did not earn admission to prestigious universities and graduate schools on the merits of his academic achievements, that he was never qualified to lead a Texas
National Guard squadron, and that his election to both a state governorship and a national presidency were both more attributable to the connections of his father than to his own accomplishments or aptitude. (Scheuer, 2004).
Generally,...
By contrast, the absolute resistance to good advice, the unjustified displays of supreme confidence, and the self-centered political philosophies of George W. Bush are much more consistent with the characteristics of dictators like Caesar.
References
Branden, N. (1999). The Psychology of Self-Esteem. New York: Basic Books.
Scheuer, M. (2004). Imperial Hubris: Why the West Is Losing the War on Terror.
Washington: Brassey's.
Uden, G. (1989). Longman Illustrated Encyclopedia of World History. London: Ivy Leaf.
