David Brooks figures out Mel Gibson's real problem: He's a narcissist!

If you're Mel Gibson, you know you're really in trouble when your epic ranting misadventures take the leap from the showbiz blogosphere and tabloids to the august New York Times Op-Ed pages, where the Times' house conservative David Brooks nails the rage-filled actor as the quintessential modern-day narcissist.

It is not a pretty picture, especially with Brooks quietly linking Gibson's much-vaunted religiosity to his delusional behavior. As Brooks unsparingly describes it, Gibson is an archetypal narcissist:

"His self-love is his most precious possession. It is the holy center of all that is sacred and right. He is hypersensitive about anybody who might splatter or disregard his greatness. If someone treats him slightingly, he perceives that as a deliberate and heinous attack. If someone threatens his reputation, he regards this as an act of blasphemy. He feels justified in punishing the attacker for this moral outrage. And because he plays by different rules, and because so much is at stake, he can be uninhibited in response. Everyone gets angry when they feel their self-worth is threatened, but for the narcissist, revenge is a holy cause and a moral obligation, demanding overwhelming force."

What's really sad is that as someone who's spent years in the showbiz trenches, I could easily name another 400 people -- not just movie and TV stars and pop singers and hip-hop artists, but studio executives, filmmakers (oh-so-many of them, trust me), movie producers and agents who fit the type to a T as well. I always felt that there was something about show business that especially acted like a magnet for the narcissistic personality types, but after hanging out with some reporters who cover famous athletes and Washington politicians, I'm persuaded that this has a lot more to do with the entitlement of celebrity in general than with any particularly venal showbiz values.

In fact, I was reminded of just how narcissistic politicians can be when I read today about Aaron Sorkin optioning the rights to "The Politician," the book by John Edwards aide Andrew Young, which details the messy inside story of working for Edwards and being asked to take responsibility for the love child Edwards fathered with his kooky mistress and videographer Rielle Hunter.

Back when Edwards was first considering a presidential run, I was having lunch with David Geffen when, of all people, Rob Reiner brought Edwards over to Geffen's table to meet the well-connected DreamWorks mogul. Edwards slid into the booth and had a lengthy conversation with Geffen about his presidential aspirations. It was a conversation that almost instantly -- since Edwards wasn't on his guard, having no idea I was a reporter -- revealed the man who was supposed to be a die-hard "There are two Americas"-style idealist to be in actuality a shallow, self-absorbed smoothie of the highest order. And not half as shrewd or smart as Geffen, who, having spent plenty of time around Bill Clinton (a much smarter first-class smoothie), was clearly underwhelmed by Edwards.

Narcissism will get you in trouble every time, whether you're Mel Gibson, John Edwards or Alex Rodriguez. Eventually people see through the facade and get a whiff of the all-about-me person inside. The most depressing part of Brooks' column comes at the end, where he makes the case that we, as a country, suffer from a rampant form of self-esteem inflation. According to current sociological data, in 1950 thousands of teenagers were asked if they considered themselves an "important" person; 12% said yes.  In the late 1980s, roughly the same amount of teens were asked the same question; 80% of the girls and 77 % of the boys said yes.

That's almost as scary as anything you can hear on the Mel Gibson tapes. Americans have gone Hollywood. We are surrounded by people dangerously in love with themselves.

PREVIOUSLY: HAS MEL GIBSON BECOME A PARIAH IN HOLLYWOOD? OR JUST FOR THE TIME BEING?

Photo: Mel Gibson with Oksana Grigorieva in February at the premiere of "Edge of Darkness." Credit: Jacques Brinon / Associated Press   

Comments

[michael]

What a load of crap. All people are like this. Especially artists. Actors, authors, directors, rock stars etc. Bias crap.

[georgettevana]

Maybe there are reporters who fall into this category also.
Maybe Mr. Brooks and yes you Mr. Goldstein have a touch of narcissism.
Forgive me if I am wrong but isnt there narcissism involved when you give your opinion ( not objective news) and feel it should carry any weight.
Its an opinion and may I say based on very little FACT.
But you as a narcissist, like Mr. Brooks, feel we as readers
should not only read your opinion but actually give it validity.
Thats what I call narcissism.

[Chales Davies]

I have to say, it angers me this sudden upsurge in feeling for Gibson. Oh, so people think the tapes are doctored. Then why hasn't he come out and said that? Yes she recorded him on purpose, but you can't blame a person for doing that after having undergone the abuse she claims to have suffered. BTW, I recommend this article I just read, its got a funny take on the whole situation: http://bit.ly/bd65pP

[Massmom]

Good article. But it can't be said enough - Gibson is dangerous. Gibson has evolved into something very dark and dangerous. He was let off easy when he was busted a few years back. That was the big red flag but he managed to wiggle away from any real consequences. In court this week, Gibson's soon to be ex wife had no reason to support the woman who helped end her marriage, and further, doesn't want the cash she's entitled going to lawyers or settlements so naturally she's going to say he's the model husband and father. Gibson's actions prove differently. People protect him for selfish reasons (financial), the fact that no one wants to believe a box office hero is out of his mind, and Gibson's enormous wealth have fueled his narcissm. When his last film was released and Gibson started the promotional interviews he became aggressive and angry with the media. He was quickly taken offline because it was obvious Gibson could no longer control his rage. Still, Gibson thinks he's untouchable (and bankable). He is a narcissist, but he's also delusional. I hope people in Hollywood realize no one wants to see anything tied to this guy. He is now, truly, Box Office Poison.

If the police fail to fully investigate and punish this man for his actions the next time we hear about Gibson someone will be dead.

[Marie]

this is the stupidest thing I have ever read...

[georgettevana]

This is the dumbing of America.
They dont even think for themselves anymore. They read other peoples thoughts (which makes you so influential) and they adopt them as their own. Its so much less work.
Education was supposed to give students the ability to have critical thinking.
Obviously that no longer exists.
Despite the fact that any person can access so much information on the internet and other sources , digest it, think about it.
People have become lazy. They read your column, someone elses opinions and thoughts and bingo they have made a decision.
It saddens me that they are so ignorant and mentally lazy and that columnists like you can take advantage of the sheer mental laziness of a society.
America is going down the drain not through economics, not through narcissism but mental laziness encouraged by all aspects of the society.
Political, educational and you people in the media should be waving a red flag. But hey your the narcissists and conveyor of the thoughts . Shades of Goebbels and the early days of the third reich.
So, is Gibson really the threat here, I would say he is not. The media and the laziness of the American public is.

[Sanjay]

The Jewish Media wants to destroy Mel.

[Jeff]

In the recordings, Mel sounds like he wants a SEX SLAVE and a HOUSE SERVANT to cater to his every whim instead of a classy wife and mother for his kids. He really does have a screw loose like the character he played in the Lethal Weapon movies.

That part where Mel SCREAMS that he DESERVES to get a blow job from Oksana before they get in the Jacuzzi is just surreal. It makes you embarrassed and want to cringe just hearing him say it. Hard to ever forget that one. :)

That's extreme narcissism right there. Does he also feel ENTITLED to have Oksana wipe his bum after he sits on the toilet for a dump too? He said he OWNS her you know. It sounds like Mel would like to join the Taliban so he can enjoy abusing and controlling Oksana like she's a farm animal or something. Mel's one of those hardcore fundamentalists I hear. Maybe it's okay in Mel's religious denomination ... women are servants to their men and all that.

Mel has obviously been pampered in Hollywood for a LONG time. Maybe his former wife made him like this. Maybe she babied him like he was a little boy half his life or something. Mel just didn't know what to do with this new "mommy" named Oksana so he thought that screaming at her like a 4 year old brat was what would get him what he wanted. He apparently hit her too like a little boy does in the sandbox.

No wonder people refer to Hollywood as HollyWEIRD these days. Who knows what bizarre stuff happens over there behind closed doors.

[Lefty2kids]

I don't approve of abuse of any kind, however, I am remaining open minded until more info comes out. People can doctor tapes and there is a lot of money in the air as well.
His exwife is supporting him and I know he has older kids with her and never heard of any problems with her or them, so, could be more to this story...8peqnu

[wait.for.the.facts]

Hmmm, can we at least wait for all the facts before we pass judgment. In our politically correct world, a tape can convict a person. What is the context of the recordings? Were they legally obtained? Have they been creatively edited? Who can authenticate? Please. . .isn't journalism supposed to be fair? It appears crude comments were made, but can we wait until the facts are determined? Does anyone remember the Duke Lacrosse Case from a few years back? Geez