A well-known German psychoanalyst and author of the 20th century, Karen Horney, postulated that each person has a prevailing attitude or predisposition in interacting with other people. We move toward other people, or away from others, or against them. We can say that we are compliant, detached or combative, respectively.

I would rate President Trump as a winner in the last category — that of displaying the utmost in hostility.

I see a somewhat subtle but clear-cut sign of his aggression when he is simply sitting with world leaders. Without variation, he will sit on the front edge of his cushy chair, body leaning strongly forward, with his fingers either pressing or tapping against each other.

That reminds me of a prizefighter in the latter stages of a brawl. Between rounds, the boxer is sitting on the lip of his stool, hunched over, bumping his gloves together, all the while not seeming to pay much attention to his cornermen’s advice. All he cares about is returning to the center of the ring to try to conquer his opponent.

I hope President Trump will not revert to ear-biting …

Norm Gellatly, Auburn

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