Trump Said He'd Never Back-Off On The Tariffs, But Did. Why Do People Do That?
The Jack Hopkins Now Newsletter #304
Trump: I’ll NEVER Back Down! Then…He Backed Down:
Within the last 10 days, we saw Trump say he would never back off on the tariffs, and then, 24 hours later, he did; he agreed to a 90-day pause on many of the tariffs and later made exceptions for smartphones and computers.
I’m sure you can remember the campaign promises of building a wall clear across the border from coast to coast. Those promises came 10 years ago. There is no wall stretching across the border.
So, he’s on record saying he’ll never change his mind—but then changing his mind, promising to start and finish some extraordinary construction project…and then just barely getting started…before the project ceased being worked on…or even talked about, for that matter.
In this issue of The Jack Hopkins Now Newsletter, I aim to briefly discuss the psychological factors commonly seen in people with a well-established pattern of the behaviors we’ve observed in Trump…which I reference above.
Why? Many people have these patterns, as seen in Trump’s behavior. Not all of them are dangerous, of course…but the way they move through life can certainly throw you a curve ball…and lead to a lot of frustration, especially if you get involved in a relationship with them.
When someone consistently makes grand…exaggerated promises and then fails to follow through…while also making definitive statements about "never changing their mind" but often doing so….there are a few psychological dynamics that could be at play.
These behaviors may indicate a combination of issues related to self-image, impulsivity, cognitive dissonance, and emotional regulation.
1. Impaired Self-Regulation and Impulsivity:
The person may have difficulty with impulse control. They might make grand promises or bold declarations to gain attention…approval…or affirmation from others.
The excitement of promising something big feels rewarding at the moment…but when it comes to following through, the person might lack the emotional or practical resources to do so.
This can often be associated with impulsivity, where the person acts on a whim and doesn't fully consider the consequences or follow through with their commitments.
2. Cognitive Dissonance:
Cognitive dissonance occurs when someone’s actions contradict their stated beliefs or promises…leading to internal tension.
To reduce this discomfort…the person may initially defend their actions or promises… saying they “will never change their mind” or that their plans are set in stone.
However, when reality sets in (such as the difficulty of completing the task or changing circumstances), they may alter their stance to alleviate the discomfort caused by not fulfilling their promises. This can make them seem inconsistent.
The need to reconcile this tension could lead them to constantly shift their positions… justifying their behavior or making new promises to avoid the discomfort of admitting failure.
3. Narcissistic Traits:
This behavior could be linked to narcissistic traits…where the person is focused on projecting an image of themselves as powerful…capable…or visionary.
They make exaggerated promises to enhance their self-image, often without realistic expectations of completion.
The act of declaring “never changing my mind” might be an attempt to assert dominance or control over a situation…but…the impulsive changes are part of a pattern of not being able to realistically gauge their own limitations.
People with these traits often find it difficult to acknowledge their faults or limitations…so they shift positions to maintain an image of consistency and self-importance.
4. Fear of Failure and Avoidance:
The individual may fear failure, and making promises might be a defense mechanism to avoid the discomfort of not meeting expectations.
In some cases, they might make exaggerated promises as a way of creating excitement or hope, but deep down…they may feel overwhelmed or incapable of following through. Changing their stance could then be a way of avoiding the potential failure they feared.
This behavior might be tied to an avoidance strategy…by making a bold promise and then changing their mind, they avoid the risk of completely failing…but they don’t deal with the root cause of their anxiety about failure.
5. Self-Esteem and Validation Seeking:
This person may struggle with low self-esteem and seek constant validation from others. By making big promises…they get a temporary boost in self-worth or attention from people.
However, when reality sets in…they might backtrack or change their mind because they aren't able to meet the high expectations they set for themselves. They then adjust to protect their fragile sense of self, which can result in frequent changes in plans or positions.
6. Lack of Accountability and Responsibility:
There may also be a lack of personal accountability. They might not feel the need to take responsibility for their unfulfilled promises or the impact their changes have on others.
This behavior could stem from not fully internalizing the consequences of their actions…or they might feel entitled to make decisions that don’t necessarily align with their promises or past behavior.
7. Difficulty with Long-Term Planning and Commitment:
Some people find it hard to plan long-term or commit to goals that require sustained effort. The immediate gratification of making big promises or declarations feels good in the short term, but the long-term commitment needed to see those promises through might be overwhelming.
As a result, they make big statements to appear decisive or powerful but then struggle when faced with the reality of execution…leading to frequent changes in mind.
This pattern of behavior suggests a mix of emotional dysregulation…self-esteem issues…impulsivity…and a struggle with accountability and consistency.
The person may feel the need to prove something to themselves or others, but they often lack the resources…foresight…or willingness to commit long-term.
Over time…this cycle of grand promises followed by backpedaling can lead to frustration in their personal relationships and may reinforce a negative cycle of self-doubt and avoidance.
Trump….and others:
Naturally, because, like it or not…Trump has been such a big part of our experiences over the last decade…for most people…he’s the first person to come to mind when reading about the psychological patterns of people making bullshit claims about what they’ll do…and then not doing it, or making bold statements like “I’ll NEVER back down,” and then…backing down.
As I previously stated, however, millions of other people in the United States have these patterns of behavior as part of how they “greet” each new day…and the people they encounter. Focus on observing others and seeing if you can spot these patterns. That’s where it will prove most useful.
Besides…we’ve seen in Trump hundreds of times.
Sleep well….
Best,
Jack