Knee deep into the campaigns for the 2016 presidential elections, many Republican candidates are exemplifying the very characteristics Karen Gustafson warns of in her new book, Unmindful Negligence.

The book, published by Page Publishing out of New York in early October, follows her research into the “tug and pull” of the American political system, as it relates to the rise of far right religious conservative, “narcissistic” figures and the dangers they pose not only to the current two-party system but our country’s democracy.

She writes in her foreword, “America is teetering on a culture of narcissism that only values the supremacy of the economic powerful while repressing conscious thoughts and behavior for the greater good.”

A Rhode Island native, Gustafson, 74, received undergraduate degrees from the University of Rhode Island in psychology, economics and history. She would go on to receive her master’s in industrial organizational psychology from the University of New Haven and did some graduate work at Providence College.

After working at several financial institutions, owning her own business, IO Consulting, and teaching and conducting research for Mellon Financial, Gustafson began teaching in Warwick as a substitute teacher. Since 2003 she has subbed in the city and continues to do so three days a week.

As a self-proclaimed “political junkie,” Gustafson began researching into what she considers the “alarming separation” within the country from the “tug and pull” of the belief that we have to restore “God” to America.

Through her research and subsequent writing for Unmindful Negligence, Gustafson found that in the last several decades there has arisen an increasing number of “narcissistic” political leaders and hopefuls who have an inability and unwillingness to work with others and see any other opinion or belief than their own.

In her methodology she outlays a narcissist; these individuals are unaccepting of anyone else’s opinion and perceive themselves above all others. They refuse to compromise and in doing so are “patronizing.” These people are often “grandiose and manipulative.” Narcissists are unable to empathize and are “emotionally detached” from those around them and expect constant emulation. She admitted that we all can exhibit narcissistic behavior, but the problem arises when these characteristics encompass someone’s identity and are continued.

“They want you to believe they are next to God,” Gustafson said. “They believe they are entitled to unlimited power, which is the most troubling aspect. These are the people who can become dictators and tyrants in times of unrest.”

She has found that this narcissistic behavior has pervaded the far right and religious Republican Party and is present not only in current presidential candidates but also past presidents.

“What came as a shock to me is that Reagan was a narcissist,” Gustafson said, “but they usually are very charming. They are not, though, men of depth and they aren’t particularly knowledgeable.”

Now, she believes there are very few moderate Republicans, with the majority of them either being pushed out of the party or leaving willingly.

“The tug of the conservative religious right in this country is dangerous,” Gustafson said. “They feel this country is turning away from God and they can’t understand and refuse to see the value in any belief that isn’t their own.”

She said the country is dealing with a group of non-inclusive and narcissistic people who can’t embrace “humankind” but only those who mirror themselves and their exact beliefs. She said their intolerance is eroding this country’s democracy because they have perverted the party and are unable to discuss problems and work with others for viable solutions.

During her writing, Gustafson took a four-month reprieve after finding a “disturbing” reliance of many of these figures, past and present, on the Bible.

Gustafson is a Christian and has read the Bible but said, “They evaluate their present as it can or cannot relate back to the Bible. They have created a fantasy world for themselves that isn’t grounded in reality at all. It’s a blatant denial or reality all together.”

Because of this dependence, these narcissistic figures refute any and all science they can’t back up with a “centuries old Bible” verse such as global warming and evolution. Narcissists put their own beliefs over anyone else and therefore have a “deep seeded” distrust for science.

In relying on such an old text to base their core beliefs, Gustafson said, “These people are refusing to deal with the real issues facing Americans. They don’t understand and don’t care about the reality of life for Americans.”

She said especially this year, with candidates such as Donald Trump and Ben Carson, both of whom Gustafson believe are exemplary examples of narcissists, the “tugs and pulls” are becoming obvious.

She said it is even forcing Democrats to lean more left to counteract the far right of the Republicans, further construing the two-party system of the United States.

This is not to say there isn’t hope for the country. Rather Gustafson believes that we are approaching a point where America will once again be able to “lift itself up”

She said as a country we are beginning to have “genuine open dialogue” concerning the issues facing the nation.

“All of our hope is in the younger generations, and it is going to take a generation or two, but I believe we can make this world better for all.”

For more information or to purchase Unmindful Negligence visit Amazon.com or anywhere e-books are sold. They can also be ordered through bookstores, although they are not kept in stock.