Or possibly just "very good con artist"

Don is one of those creative types so maybe he is manic/depressive? Wild creative streaks and emotional highs interspersed with deeply depressed states of self-destructive behavior. When Peggy was in the psych ward he told her to say whatever she had to to get out. Maybe he has been in one before?

I thought he was a sociopath at first, but when he found out his brother killed himself, he seemed genuinely upset. Who knows what might have happened if his brother had lived? I think he has done a very good job of repressing his feelings, but I do think he as a conscience...somewhere...

I think he had such horrible childhood, he just compartmentalized his feelings when he decided to become Don Draper. Good therapy might enable him open up and release what is inside.

He is detached, but he can learn to become more rooted.

I also used to think Peggy was a sociopath, but I wonder if she was abused as a child? She also seems to sometimes be detached, but when they fired....arrggg...can't think of his name....for wetting himself, the way she reacted showed to me that she isn't--same with Don/Dick--the way he reacts to certain things shows me he isn't quite a sociopath. I think there is hope for him. Maybe if he goes and "finds himself."

Redkimba: I agree with the comment re: Ayn Rand, although in a past post I said I thought he would be diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Disorder with borderline and antisocial (sociopathic)traits. I use the DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual used by mental health professionals) in my work. Don sometimes seems to feel grief or guilt, but it is fleeting. He has no troulble lying about serious issues; it's as if "the rules don't apply to me".

When clients don't fulfill all of the criteria for a diagnosis, it is not a full-blown personality disorder, for instance. However, it is acknowledged that they still may have traits of antisocial personality disorder, as a lesser form of the disorder.

Can't resist posting here. This is one of my theories about this show, that Don is a genuine sociopath--- incapable of real love or conscience. Fans of "The Sopranos" will recall that Tony's psychiatrist finally gave up on him at the very end of the series because she realized that that was the case with Tony.
Don Draper is much more attractive and likeable than Tony Soprano, but at heart, I wonder if they aren't the same guy. ?????

I never thought of that producerbonnie, but if that's the case, that would be a waste of time for us viewers who try to make the character out. I really don't want Don to end up being a "hopeless case" at the end of the series.

He's not sociopathic or bi-polar. He is Peer Gynt. He is a clever, creative but lazy person on a quest for himself. He wants to be true to himself but he doesn't know who he is so he ends up being selfish. Ultimately, he loves his wife but it will take him a long time to realize that. In the meantime, he seeks his fortune and experiences many things. He shares part of his life with the madmen around him who have their own lives and inner turmoil.
The title of the next episode gave it away but there were earlier clues. I thought this was a morality play of some sort. Bertram Cooper plays an interesting role. He says, "A man is whatever room he is in." Ayn Rand was also a clue. That way is all about egoism. Live for yourself.

Hutch, please explain to me Don/Dick's desire to compartmentalize his life and his belief that if he wills something, it will become true (i.e. his advice to Peggy, "you'll be surprised how easy it never happened.")

The Russians have a saying, "men are not mountains". Try as they might, men's paths do eventually cross and your past will find you. I find Don/Dick's denial of his past delusional. What makes a person think that those around him/her won't eventually figure it out, as Betsy is now suspecting of Don.

Don is a genuine sociopath

Well, let's see. I've read up on sociopaths and it doesn't add up. There are elements to Don that hit the mark, like lying, promiscuity, being secretive, maybe even the fact that his emotions are certainly retarded. He can be impulsive, and he's not always aware of how he's hurting other's feelings. But there are other significant aspects to a sociopath that aren't Don at all. For example, sociopaths don't recognize the rights of others, yet Don has passionately fought for the rights of that one client when SC wanted to switch to TWA. Or how about the lady in the elevator when he demanded the boys show her respect?

Likewise, sociopaths are hostile inside, and see themselves as grandiose; they are narcissistic. Yet Don comes across as having low self-esteem (not grandiose) and wanting to fade into the background rather than preen in front of the mirror.

Sociopaths also have violent outbursts and tend to be cruel and abusive to others, including animals. We do see some callousness with Bobby, but this is a man who walks his dog, can't bring himself to spank his own kid, is not verbally or physically abusive to his wife--just sometimes a a dick--was concerned and helpful and fatherly toward Peggy, and has only actually hit one person. Pete tried to blackmail him and he's hasn't taken any terrible revenge on the man.

FInally. sociopaths have a poor work ethic. That's not Don at all. When he is working, he's got the most amazingly strong work ethic. We might say that he takes off lunches and drinks and such, but then so do all the ad men. And he doesn't "exploit" others--he uses them quite well and rewards them for their work. And he's hardly a tyrant, not even at home with Betty and the kids. Not unless we consider the typical 60's male as being a sociopath when he tells his wife not to wear a bikini.

So, while he has the lying part down, the promiscuity and such, he's really missing too much (or has too much) to be a true sociopath. I know he seems like he's the sort to have bodies in the basement or like he's suddenly going to pistol-whip someone who offends him...but this is NOT Tony Soprano. Even when blackmailed, he doesn't beat people up, threaten them, demand tribute or adoration; he's even a pretty good boss, and that to snarky underlings. This is not so terrible a guy.

He's got psychological problems, no argument, but sociopath? No.

I originally did think he was a sociopath but ...

I don't think don realizes people are drawn to him mainly because of his looks and powerful presence and perhaps doesn't see how pete does not get the same reception and really doesn't care ... he is too busy moving forward

I also think Jon Hamm will leave the show to pursue a movie career so his character may be jumping like the opening credits

did you see the preview for "The Day the Earth Stood Still"

.....I agree with a lot of the posters here, and have been saying since the beginning that Draper exhibited many sociopathic characteristics, with one or two saving graces. He's borderline a lot of things, and I do wonder about the PTSD as well.

In Season One, some of us (!) saw a gun on top of the hush money Draper was taking to Adam. According to reruns and the DVDs, the gun doesn't exist.....hmmmm.

My point is, that, for me, the gun would have been the difference between say, Borderline Personality Disorder and full-on sociopathy. His comment about wanting to murder his father (for beatings), and that he [ostensibly] packed the gun seemed to indicate he was capable of anything.

Then they go and delete the damned gun. There goes my theory.

I'd also called Draper a nihlist in past posts, based on his running commentary of "There is nothing...." "It ends badly...." "There is no tomorrow...." etc. That, just like the opening credits, Draper was living his entire life as a one-way, kamakazi free-fall. (You know, the kind without a future, or a net.)

Someone argued wth me that Draper was merely a narcissist. Since so many disorders have characteristics in common, it's not hard to understand why diagnosing Don Draper isn't a hole-in-one.

Again, Matt Weiner defies us to pigeonhole a character.

i have an old book at home called, "the virtue of selfishness" written by a devotee of ayn rand's "logical positivism" philosophy. last episode, "joy" asks don, why would you deny yourself something you really want? the premise is, if it makes the individual happy or fulfilled, it's good for society. i guess the gap between the individual and the society as a whole doesn't matter as much - i.e., the wife, the kids, the co-worker, etc.
don is very attractive and his misconduct is accepted, at least for a time, because of it.

first of all his job is his home. He cant belong anywhere or anybody because of his childhood. and his past based on lies. Its very hard for a person. But his working space is his kingdom and he is king. I dont think that he has big phys. problem.
He looks for a woman to take care of him because he had not a mother, he looks for freedom because his young ages had taken by army. He looks for to be a king because his step family didnt care of him. So he just try to handle his past and i think he is succesful. "He is objectivits not alturist"

Very thoughtful comments! Thirteen: great analysis, now I have to go ponder Don all over again. :-)
I really have to admit, like him or not, this is a fascinating character. In fact I find nearly all the characters on the show very absorbing. This is such a welcome break from most TV. I really quit watching 99% of it, years ago.

Did anyone mention Don being a sex addict? Usually sex addicts go looking for sex, but in Don's case - sex seems to find him. LOL Cheers! ;o)

Did anyone mention Don being a sex addict? Usually sex addicts go looking for sex - in Don's case, sex seems to find him. LOL Cheers! ;o)

Oops, looks like the post took two times after it gave me an error message. Three Dino's a charm! Cheers. ;o)

Sex addict, borderline sociopath, narcissistic pd, in other words, I agree with hutch...
Our Donny-boy is one screwed up dude. But not as bad as Pete...now there's a case...obsessed with violence...note all his favorite movies are violent in nature...and that evil, creepy laugh of his.
Oh..we were talking about Don. ha

It is very common for those who were abused as children to be unable to form close relationships or to trust others. And why would such a person want to play by the rules and be part of the group, the rules were always stacked against them growing up. It was Don against the world and he still sees it that way. ("What do you want me to say?")

And don't forget the 1960's context in which this plays out - people were experimenting with new ideas and new lifestyles. Many of us broke almost completely with that which we knew before.

Polar Bear: Don's ability to compartmentalize aspects of his life are directly proportionate to his level of narcissism. Narcissists frequently are very successful in their chosen careers. However, there is often an element of delusion or distorted reality involved in the way they interact with the world in general. Lying in order to "be on top" or avoid objective reality is a feature of this personality disorder. Narcissists can present as strong, charismatic individuals; however the ego is fragile, often the result of abuse in childhood. When narcissists "decompensate" and the illusion of their "reality" falls away they can become pathologically violent and extremely abusive in other ways.

Thirteen: I don't think Don is a full-blown sociopath, however he has many features of this personality disorder, as well as borderline personality disorder. I have to disagree with you on a number of points: Don does not respect the rights of other generally. He is promiscuous, and doesn't seem to give a second thought to the fact that he could be giving his wife an STD, not to mention the gross violation of trust involved. He left his daughter's birthday party to ostensibly get her birthday cake, disappeared and showed up hours later with no thought that Sally would not have a cake to share with her friends, or that Betty would be humiliated and embarassed in front of their friends and neigbours. He is emotionally abusive to his wife in a variety of ways. Don't forget that his abuse and neglect of his brother was a direct cause of his brother's suicide. I believe that Don's revenge against Pete is a work in progress. Don also benefits from the "halo effect". Because of his physical attractiveness people perceive him as being more intelligent, capable, powerful, and successful than someone less handsome.

I know Im not spelling this right but its called dissasiotive disorder .Meaning he can actually separate himself from his actions

Oh yes after reading another post this would also be true of Peggy she can separate herself from what happened and go on as tho nothing happened./And who was there for her and her for him DON! they ironacally have things in common personality wise

He is promiscuous, and doesn't seem to give a second thought to the fact that he could be giving his wife an STD, not to mention the gross violation of trust involved.

So...Roger is a sociopath, too? He had sex with his secretaries and any number of models and other women. How about any of the other ad men at SC who are cheating on their wives? Are they ALL sociopaths because not one of them gives a second thought to fact that they could be giving their wives STD not to mention the gross violation of trust involved??

And I hardly think the daughter's birthday proves it either. Again, there are other men at SC who have screwed up in similar ways. Who have, in being drunk, or hitting on other women, have humiliated their wives before their friends and neighbors. How about our divorced mom and what she's done to Glenn? Is she a sociopath? Are they ALL sociopaths?

My point is, I think many viewers are projecting and ignoring some very important facts that blow holes in these arguments for sociopath. You're identifying with the hurt felt by Betty, and I sympathize. Don has hurt her. But he is NOT a sociopath. Read the digonosis. He hasn't kept her from friends and family, hasn't demanded she do exactly as he says in every particular, hasn't hit her, hit the kids, tortured the animals, demanded she treat him as a king, keep her abused and trapped.

This is a sociopath.

All Don is, ultimately, is a product of his time and place. An American male raised in the 30's, 40's and 50's who is doing exactly what American males of his type did then. We know this, because almost every male (and a good many females) on the show, is doing the same! They're promiscuous, selfish, cruel, vengeful, narcissistic. From our modern times these actions would be those of a borderline sociopath (which is terribly interesting, isn't it?). But not then and there. Then and there such actions by upwardly mobile white males toward women and children--hell, toward blacks, Jews and homosexuals--were perfectly normal. Even down to lying and maintaining lies to keep up the pretense of a perfect marriage and happy family.

Which is all to say, if we're going to diagnose Don, we can't, can't, can't forget to keep the psychology of his era and country in place. The way Don thinks and acts is, well, very 60's American, and we might as well diagnosis that psyche as whole as diagnosis him.

Hutch, thank you for the explanation. I have seen this condition up close and I must say that it can be extremely frightening. Narcissists have this ability to "will" the past to fit the image they try to project. Any threat to their projected image results in a "fight" or "flight" response which you mentioned.

In a previous post, I wrote that Dick's abandonment (when he assumed Don's life) and eventual rejection of Adam, which resulted in poor Adam's suicide, were two of the most disturbing things I have ever seen on a fictional TV show. I have a brother that I can not imagine abandoning, especially because our childhood was tough.

What happens when someone contradicts the narcissists' image or can bring to light the past that the narcissist denies (as Adam represented)? Does the whole house of cards collapse or does the narcissist hold onto their version of the past/truth despite evidence to the contrary? Dick Whitman can either run away for the rest of his life or he can admit the truth to himself and Betty. How do you see this playing out for Dick?

Thirteen: Great synopsis - you're very brilliant!

ı dont think he is narsiscist as you watched season2 first episode he has a problem with his age and his way of act to young employees and his sex life effects easily. if he is narcist he didnt effect with that way.

ı dont think he is narsiscist as you watched season2 first episode he has a problem with his age and his way of act to young employees and his sex life effects easily. if he is narcist he didnt effect with that way.

Thirteen, one of my favorite quotes from television came from Spock: In an insane society, it is the sane man that appears insane.

My primary interest is this show is based on your thesis that Don's/Dick's behavior is perfectly "sane" within the subculture he exists - upwardly mobile, WASP businessmen. As you correctly point out, the price for all of these men's shenanigans was paid by everyone else - their families, women, blacks, hispanics, asians, homosexuals, etc. The early 1960's represented to me the pendulum swinging to the end of one arc and building momentum in the opposite direction. The Free Speech Movement, I have a Dream, Kennedy's assassination, the British Invasion, the explosion of the Civil Rights Movement, Viet Nam build up, are all about to happen in the next 12 to 18 months and no one at Sterling Cooper sees the tsunami. Maybe Paul but he is too much of a poser to recognize the he is swimming in a rip tide.

I find Don Draper so fascinating because he could easily have everything taken away if he is ever found out. Dick Whitman, poor, white trash Dick Whitman, would never be invited to the world of Don Draper. And Don/Dick knows this - its a spectre that follows Don every minute of every day. He is an a spy, inhabiting someone else's life so that he may enjoy a world that he was not born to. Is it mental illness or self interest? I look forward to the audience's response.

The Free Speech Movement, I have a Dream, Kennedy's assassination, the British Invasion, the explosion of the Civil Rights Movement, Viet Nam build up, are all about to happen in the next 12 to 18 months and no one at Sterling Cooper sees the tsunami.

Wow! Very nicely said, Polar Bear. I think you're spot on here. The show's creators have picked that exact time when the wave was cresting.

I find Don Draper so fascinating because he could easily have everything taken away if he is ever found out. Dick Whitman, poor, white trash Dick Whitman, would never be invited to the world of Don Draper. And Don/Dick knows this - its a spectre that follows Don every minute of every day. He is an a spy, inhabiting someone else's life so that he may enjoy a world that he was not born to.

Another very good point. Yet I'd like to also point out that Draper does seem to be looking for something deeper in the American dream than just having sex and cars and a partnership in the business. He wants SC to honor its commitments to clients, and is not a sell-out like Pete (whose dad dies on TWA, but he'll use that to get the account and move up to corporate ladder). Don wants young men to take off their hats before a lady, and he's loyal to friends--to Freddy, and yes, Duck, too, who SC didn't want to bring in because he'd been a drunk. Don argued to give Duck a job. When Roger has that heart attack, Don puts him back in order so Mona doesn't know about the young models, and both Roger and Mona can maintain their dignity. He see's Peggy's potential and helps her--whereas Harry, seeing Joan's potential, rejected her out of hand because she was a woman. And Don refuses to spank his son knowing, first hand, that no one ever learned anything good from being physically abused. Finally, for all his affairs, Don's never taken advantage of his position by forcing himself on any of the secretaries, unlike just about every other man in that office.

Why are viewers ignoring this side of Don in their dignosis? He hangs with Bohemians, mixes with Jet Setters, has an affair with a Jewish woman, asks black waiters their opinion, helps out unwed mothers. He reads poetry, and for all that he wants that American dream, he knows it's underpinnings.

He is as much the creator of the dream as it's consumer. And I think that's very important if we're going to do any analysis of his character. I think that "sociopath" and/or narcissist might well be the mask he wears to fit into his sociopathic, narcissistic world, not necessarily the real man.

My money is on "personality disorder" for Don's diagnosis. As you know, a personality disorder is formed early in life when people learn inappropriate ways of coping and stick with it. What little we see of Don't childhood is fascinating: relationship with dishonest stepfather who cheats the homeless man out of his wages, the birth of his younger brother distancing him from his mom, his easy ability to change identities with the real Don Draper and live a lie, his disconcerted attitude when he saw his mother and brother's grief at meeting his casket at the train station, his immediate rejection and pay off of his younger brother resulting in suicide, Pete Campbell's ratting him out as Dick Whitman and his philosophy of "It Never Happened". He lives by this philosophy and shared it with Peggy Olson in her hospital room as a way to cope.
I see in the character of Don Draper (played outrageously well by John Hamm!) a man who is narcissistic and self-absorbed, a man who can be incredibly loyal to one person and ignore another, a man hell-bent on self-preservation and a hedonistic lifestyle, a man who occaisionally intervenes to champion someone on occaision and who would watch passively as another drowned. I see a man who is incredibly cautious about how other men treat him and he can hold a grudge, bring the hammer down on someone or make-nice when the occaision calls for it. Don defers to the ladies but treats Betty, his wife like dirt.
Betty is the trophy wife who is his arm candy, holds no opinion, never raises her voice or makes her own life. Don cheats on her, takes her to a psychiatrist and calls the doctor to find out about her condition, he drinks to excess, controlls her, disappoints her and he just can't understand why she's unhappy. Don's clueless.
Don certainly can be called a narcissist because of his hedonistic lifestyle and self absorbtion. Don certainly can be called a sociopath because he views other people as a means of getting what he wants and needs....he doesn't see them as having selves and needs of their own. Also, sociopaths can be VERY CHARMING when they're working on getting what they want; it's part of the personality disorder.
But there is a third component at work here: Don Draper has the easy ability to deny reality at the drop of a hat. He easily puts himself in dangerous or compromising positions without a thought of future consequences. He has built a comfortable world where Sterling Cooper loves him. Peggy Olson comes to rescue him. And his wife and kids adore him. Very Comfortable. And the character of Don is easily drawn to anyone who will make him comfortable such as "Joy", the mysterious woman who asks him, "Why deny yourself what you want?" (Easy: Because sometimes what we want isn't always what is best for us....we think about the consequences before we act. Don doesn't.)
The writers have developed a multi-faceted character in Don Draper and John Hamm deserves the accolades he receives for playing and developing this character as well as he has. Well don, AMC!

Thirteen, I agree that Don has a code of conduct, his own version of the Hobo code. He doesn't sh*t where he eats - no hanky panky in the office. When he recognizes a kindred spirit - Roger or Peggy, he will do what he can to protect them or nurture them, so long as it doesn't threaten his self interest. His loyalty is conditional also - while upset with abandoning Mohawk Airlines, he followed company orders and gave them the axe. In a similar situation, he didn't fight too hard to save Fred Rumson, even though he protected poor Freddie's name in front of the Junior idiots. I think Fred was the one who brought Don into Sterling Cooper. Fred recognized Don's potential in much the same way he was the first to recognize Peggy's during the Belle Jolie episode.

The great thing about this show is no one is completely evil or virtuous. You mention two of Don's greatest virtues: 1. He is not a racist; he does engage black people and doesn't deign to use racist language or ideas in public or private; 2. By refusing to hit Bobby, he shows an awareness not common to adults raised in an abusive environment, especially at that time in US history. Yet, I am troubled at the ease of his willingness to abandon his children when he asked Rachel to go to LA. As a divorced Dad, I know how difficult the decision is to leave. He seemed more concerned with his own exposure than losing his kids.

Unlike many other posters, I liked this episode. I thought his response to the slide presentation of the Polaris Missle with its Multiple Indepently targeted Re-entry Vehicles (MIRV's) and its ability to target 14 cities was Don/Dick's aha moment. As the Kodak Carousel is humming and clicking in the background, all I could think about was Don's own presentation - "it takes you back where you want to be". The irony of nuclear annihilation was Kubrickesque. I imagine Don was thinking, is that all there is? Is this the fruit of my labor? No wonder the invitation to Palm Springs was irresistible to the hobo Dick Whitman.

I enjoy this thread and the idea that Don Draper has a "diagnosis".
We have to look at Don as a male in the business/corporate world of the early 1960's. Don Draper is a "shark" at Sterling Cooper. He's hungry, creative, attractive and his ideas make money for the company. He's got leadership down to a fine art, directing his subordinates and managing them at arm's length. He forces his team to produce and when they are working with him, notice the body language, the "on your toes" effect he has on them...they move quickly and sit up straight.
Now, imagine if Don was a woman. What would we think of her and would such a person exist in 1962? I think that the comparison to Ayn Rand is interesting.
So what have we got here? Is Don just a successful corporate executive (think Enron) or is he a personality disorder...or both? What would Hugh Hefner say about him and what would Dr. Phil say about him?

Don certainly can be called a narcissist because of his hedonistic lifestyle and self absorbtion. Don certainly can be called a sociopath because he views other people as a means of getting what he wants and needs....he doesn't see them as having selves and needs of their own. Also, sociopaths can be VERY CHARMING when they're working on getting what they want; it's part of the personality disorder.

And people can enjoy a hedonistic lifestyle without being narcissistic (just about everyone in that office does. I ask again, are they all narcissists?), and everyone who can be charming isn't necessarily a sociopath. And people who view others as a means to their ends aren't always sociopaths either...or is Pete one?

I have to keep coming back to this. Don may obey orders like a good soldier and give up the client as commanded--but he clearly felt bad about it. He may have given up Freddy--like a good soldier, but he clearly didn't like it. Why put the worst possible spin on it? Why sociopath? Why narcissist? And if he is these things, especially a sociopath, why is he falling so short of the diagnosis? Betty shoots pigeons, yet she's not the sociopath? (Diagnosis: likely to hurt animals). Betty wants to spank the kids, Don refuses,but Don's the sociopath? (Diagnosis: will abuse children). Roger's charming, Pete's charming, Joan is charming in order to get what they want and they all use people...but only Don's charm and using people labels him a sociopath?

Everyone's lying and pretending and yet only Don's lies make him a sociopath? Everyone's being promiscuous and selfish, but only Don's promiscuity fits the sociopath diagnosis? Seriously, folks, do you understand that sociopaths repeatedly get into fights and get arrested for physical assault? That they're violent and always in trouble with the law? That they often fail in their financial obligations? That they usually end up in jail?

Don? Really? The Don who has provided a home and comfort to his wife and kids for however many years, has never, so far as we know, been in jail, and not, till now (and we will admit this is a stressful situation, yes?) shirked his work or financial responsibilities? Don who rarely strikes out, explodes or gets violent? Don who has only hauled off and hit one guy--and that wasn't even the one who blackmailed him! Don who has only come close to be arrested once for drunk driving?

I look at what everyone's saying and it seems like a lot of people want him to be a sociopath because they can't seem to accept that a normal guy could do bad things to Betty, could be a coward running from himself and the truth, could be that sort of liar and such if he wasn't a sociopath. But he just doesn't fit the most important aspects of the profile. People lie. People cheat. People are selfish. Hedonistic. Not everyone who does these things does them because they are a sociopath. Look at Sal--he's living a lie as much as Don is. He's not a sociopath. Just because you can match some of the symptoms doesn't mean he fits the diagnosis. And WHY he's doing it counts nearly as much as what he's doing if we're going to put a label on him.

Thirteen: Have you read "The Culture of Narcissism" by Christopher Lasch? I was thinking about your previous post concerning Don's being "as much the creator of the dream as its consumer". I agree with this statement. While I'm interested in the clinical side for obvious reasons (I'm a psychotherapist), I am equally fascinated by the philosophical and sociological aspects. In my work with clients who are labeled "borderline" personalities a common thread is severe and prolonged abuse (usually including sexual) in their formative years. One of the criteria for this disorder is identity confusion. Logically, who wouldn't have problems with identity given the sheer brutality these children have endured? In Don's case, he doubtless has a code that has sustained him in difficult circumstances. Are his identity issues a product of his upbringing or of the culture to which he was exposed? Doubtless there are many variables to consider. Thanks for you thought provoking posts

Wow, great posts! I can't even hazard a guess at Don's diagnosis. Don really had to claw his way out of a really rotten childhood and finally leave it all behind. I would think that alone would place him in the minority of his peers who share a similar background. In other words, I think he has a very strong personality and he's a survivor. Although he had horrible parents, he has reinvented himself as a good and loving father. I think he really wants to be a good husband, but that may mean a lot more unfamiliar territory to cover. His examples of how a husband and wife should behave in order to stay married just aren't there...so he's wingin' it with Betty. Unfortunately, he keeps slipping back to copying his old man's behaviors. He lies to survive and to keep the past invisible. It's just not practical that most people could keep up the charade, but Don is good at this. Ok, I'm rambling...time for bed!

Polar Bear: When the narcissistic image is contradicted, narcissists are capable of great rage; after all their whole existence and sense of self is hanging in the balance. The reality they have so carefully built up is found to have feet of clay. At this point, narcissists may have a psychotic break, completely losing touch with reality as we know it. However, in a more covert way, the rage goes underground. They may act out in the way Don is doing now. His impeccably groomed image and focus on work has shifted in this last episode. I think that Don will either use these recent experiences for the purposes of self-enlightenment, or he will be drawn deeper into the web of deceit that he has ultimately created for himself.

I'm not even going to attempt to "read" Don Draper. I've always seen him as a very wounded man.

Toby, good question -- and lovely responses. I don't think Don's a sociopath. I asked this question before, and I think dissociative disorder (DD!) makes sense: "multiple mannerisms, attitudes and beliefs that are dissimilar to each other; headaches and other body pains; distortion or loss of subjective time; depersonalization; amnesia; depression." However, none of us in life, or in great art, can be so tidily summed up by a diagnosis, I suppose. In the end, I like Visan's description -- 'a very wounded man.'

Drink & Smoke, 'Three Dino's a charm!' You need to multiple post more often. It just looks funny. Somehow imagine Dean Martin saying everything you write, and that's a high compliment. Love that guy.

btw, in my earlier comment way above in this thread, i said ayn rand's philosophy was "logical positivism". actually, it's "rational objectivism". there is still an objectivist society which promotes her philosophy. perhaps without knowing it, don is espousing it - or attempting to.

Hutch: Thank you for your explanantion and the clarity of your writing. For many of us, the characters in this show are proxies for people we know(n) or even ourselves. The brilliance of the writing and acting has created an imaginery world that is both familiar and far enough in the past that we can safely examine their world, dissect it, hold it up to the light and compare it to our present world.

I have stated earlier that Don may have experienced a catalytic event with the Polaris Missle slide show/Kodak "Carousel". Talk about the ultimate "it will all end badly", no wonder he so easily left Pete to fend for himself and his decision to escape reality in Palm Springs.

While this post addresses the psychological issues for Don/Dick, I especially enjoy Madmen's attention to historical context. Specifically, "Jet Set" is happening around late September, first week of October, 1962. Why is this important? As the news report was playing on TV as Pete came back from California, the first Black man was enrolled at the University of Mississippi (a small but very hopeful step for mankind). Within two weeks, the Cuban Missle crisis started and humankind came within an eyelash of extinction. I don't know how these outside events would affect a man like Don/Dick, if at all. But I do enjoy asking myself these questions and when we look at the world today, there is still reason for hope. However, we, as individuals or societies, can't help ourselves from skating to the very edge of the abyss.

As I was reading my last post, I should have added, does Don/society have a death wish? He quickly dismissed this thesis when he threw the Lucky Strike report in the garbage but it doesn't mean that the idea doesn't have some merit. What is it about mankind that likes to see if we can push ourselves to the brink of personal/professional/societal extinction (think of all the ways Don has pushed the envelope)? Like Icarus, is Don's joy of life seeing how close he can fly to the sun?

Great posts, and I have been trying to stay away from it.
In my opinion and experience, I have decided that Don is a Narcissist. Borderline? mmm maybe, but not really.
These people (cluster B types?) look terrific to anyone on the outside. They can cry with the saddest of them, be charitable as long as someone is looking. They seem to treat their loved ones, in the privacy of their own homes, badly. That doesn't mean hitting. It could be a lot of things It could be psychological, like I believe Don has practiced in with Betts. Have you seen Gaslight? Boyer was like this to Ingrid.

One can't forget that Dick became Don, not because he was abused. He became Don, when Don died. What was his motivation? My guess is because Don had only a few months left of service. Dick peed his pants and wanted out of the Army. He acted in a cowardly way. My experience finds that Narcissists are cowards in their real feelings that might make them believe they aren't "all that".
He could have served his time as Dick, and after discharge just moved on like he did.
Narcissistic people don't like to have bad feelings about themselves. Their self hatred is what drives them to preserve their "new" self by lying, cheating, and being a success, and having all the trappings of a regular person, something that doesn't really have value for him.

Polar Bear: Thank you for your comments. I was very intrigued by your questions regarding society's death wish. Have you read "The Culture of Narcissism" by Christopher Lasch or "Life Against Death" by Norman O. Brown and Christopher Lasch? Both books are profoundly interesting and address the questions you are asking. The death instinct is also explored in D. M. Thomas's "The White Hotel" which is on my list of best novels of all time.

"Within an eyelash of extinction"...I love that phrase! I was about ten during the Cuban Missile Crisis. I remember having to run home from school (we were expected to time ourselves) when the alarm rang. I was so anxious, I actually put my rubbers on the wrong feet and ran all the way home with them flopping and almost falling off. We also did the "duck and cover" thing... the height of absurdity. I think that is why I've always loved Kubrick in general and Dr. Strangelove in particular -
he really got it.

I'm Canadian and I was wondering how this period was for you in the States? Anyone care to share?

Hutch: I appreciate the reading material. I look forward to reading all three.

Few people know or remember how close we came to nuclear annihilation in October, 1962. Smithsonian Air & Space magazine recently had an article about a U2 spy plane that inadvertently flew 400 miles into Soviet airspace at the height of the Cuban Missle Crisis. The plane was over the North Pole and got lost because the Aurora Borealis conditions made star navigation impossible. The pilot also lost the homing signal which resulted in his violation of Soviet air space. The Soviets scrambled interceptors but luckily the could not catch the plane over Russia. The Soviets were convinced the plane was the first plane of the first wave of US bombers. The US was at DEFON 2 at the time - Land and sea based missles were ready for immediate lift off and bombers were loaded with their nuclear payload and flying to their Fail Safe points of no return. If this U2 had flown any deeper into the Soviet Union, they would have launched their own pre-emptive strike. This information was kept top secret for fear of the public's reaction. Talk about "within an eyelash of extinction".

Also glad to see that you are a Kubrick fan. Madmen is like a weekly Kubrick featurette. The writing, acting, direction, and craft of this series make watching it such a joy. There are so many layers to each character and the story line. Like Kubrick, Weiner lets the audience define what the message means. I've wondered if there will be a "Keyser Soze" moment and our interpretations of the same story lines/characters will be changed with this revelation.

Polar Bear: Yes, I'm a big Kubrick fan. Have you read the posts on the thread "What has Matt Weiner learned from Stanley Kubrick"? Other directors I admire are: Herzog, Wenders, Bergman, Lynch, and Wertmuller. The last episode of MM was very reminiscent of some of Lynch's work. "The Usual Suspects" and "Mulholland Drive" have many similarities. Interestingly, Lynch was to direct a film adaptation of "The White Hotel". Unfortunately, this never happened.

I also love the complexity of the characters and the storyline and reading everyone's interpretations and predictions.

Well folks, looks like we did have our "Keyser Soze" moment. Clearly, Dick Whitman's relationship with Anna Draper shows he has a conscience and his code of conduct is real. He showed genuine gratitude to Anna for allowing him to assume her husband's life. He apparently has a plutonic relationship and has gone out of his way to provide for her, even thought she never asked for a dime. He recognized that his actions were screwing up his marriage and he showed genuine remorse for his brother's death. Although his original intent in discussing Betty with Anna was to get her to grant him a divorce, it seemed he cared more about Anna's blessing.

Despite all this, we have to ask ourselves, why does he continue to lie to those around him? Why can't he stop philandering? Why can't he throw caution to the wind and tell Betsy the truth? Why can't he be Dick Whitman?

In light of episode 12, "The Mountain King", how does our perception of Dick/Don change. He seemed much at ease with Anna because he no longer had to pretend he was Dick. Does his dip in the Pacific symbolize his self-baptism (i.e. washing away Dick's original sin, living a lie)? This thread may be dead but if anyone out there reads this, I am interested in your thoughts.

He is a narcissist because he feels shame, but not guilt. He never feels guilt.

The only thing he cares about is the rep he builds for himself. Watch every. single. episode. with this in mind. You'll see it's true.

He doesn't like it when his secretaries know stuff about him. "I don't have to remind you this is personal".

He's afraid his carefully built image is about to collapse.

- doesn't feel guilt + only cares about the persona he invented for himself = narcissist

The other people around him are characters in his play.

That's a narcissist right there.