April, 2025
George Santos (tearfully): "Dr. Bennett, could you help explain...what psychological conditions led me here? Why did I do the things I did?"
Dr. Bennett: "George, first, thank you for asking this question. Understanding is the first step. Let's walk through it, layer by layer, so you—and we—can truly understand."
Dr. Bennett: "George, when you first began embellishing your résumé, what were you feeling inside?"
George Santos: "I felt invisible. It was like... if I stayed ordinary, no one would ever notice. I had to build a person that deserved attention."
Dr. Bennett: "How did you cope with public exposure and charges?"
George Santos: "At first, I thought, 'Spin it. Joke about it.' I didn't know another way. But eventually... the weight crushed me."
Dr. Bennett: "Do you understand how your actions affected people?"
George Santos: "I do now. I hurt people who believed in me. I made a joke out of something sacred."
| Group | Impact |
|---|---|
| Donors | Financial loss and betrayal of trust. |
| Voters | Embarrassment and loss of faith in elections. |
| Congress | Distraction, scandal, reputational damage. |
Dr. Bennett: "You've petitioned for clemency. What would you say to the President?"
George Santos: "I would say... I am sorry. I lost my way trying to matter. I ask not for forgiveness, but for the chance to rebuild a life with honesty."
George Santos: Dr. Bennett... can you help me? I mean, really help me understand why it felt so... normal to lie? It felt like survival, but now it feels like madness.
Dr. Bennett: You're being very honest, George, and that's important. Let's walk through one of the foundational concepts that shaped your behavior—Self-Justification Loops.
George Santos: I guess... I kept telling myself it was for the greater good. For my campaign, my causes, even my mother.
Dr. Bennett: Exactly. You likely convinced yourself that the lies were a means to an important end. But eventually, the lies became the structure, not the tool. That’s when it moves toward something we call Pathological Normalization.
George Santos: I thought... maybe if I just got through one more week, or one more headline, I'd finally be the person I was pretending to be.
Dr. Bennett: That's a profound observation. Many individuals caught in cycles like yours are chasing an ideal self-image, but the chase itself creates a bigger chasm between reality and the persona.
George Santos: And the people I hurt... the donors, my staff, my constituents... I can't even face them.
Dr. Bennett: It's difficult because there's a third major component we need to discuss—Empathy Erosion. Over time, emotional disconnection allows you to prioritize survival over guilt or connection.
George Santos: [long pause] I don't want to be that person anymore. I really don't.
Dr. Bennett: Then understanding it is the first step. Tomorrow in your sentencing hearing, the judge won't just see a list of crimes. They'll see the totality of the person. What you say—and what you truly mean—can still matter, George.
Dr. Bennett: George, rebuilding your internal world isn’t easy—but it's possible. And it begins with small, deliberate steps.
George Santos: [voice shaking slightly] Steps... what kind of steps?
Dr. Bennett: Think of it as three stages: Recognition, Accountability, and Redirection.
George Santos: [whispering] I recognize it. I really do. I lied. I hurt people who trusted me. And myself too.
Dr. Bennett: That's the right beginning. Now, Stage 2: Accountability.
George Santos: I guess... I kept blaming the system, the expectations, the donors. But it was me. I chose it.
Dr. Bennett: And Stage 3 is Redirection. This is where your future lives, George.
George Santos: [a bit more firmly] Like what? What could I even do?
Dr. Bennett: In prison, volunteer for unglamorous duties. In letters, tell the truth even when it makes you look bad. Listen more than you talk. Little things, done with consistency, rebuild not just your image—but your self-respect.
George Santos: [nods] And if no one ever forgives me?
Dr. Bennett: Forgiveness from others is unpredictable. Forgiveness of yourself, however, is earned—and it matters more.
Dr. Bennett: George, before we end, I want to be clear about something — and this is for you, but also for those watching, writing, and commenting out there. You are not alone in what happened. In fact, your story is far more common than most people are willing to admit.
George Santos: [quietly] It doesn’t feel that way.
Dr. Bennett: That's because we only see the extremes—the ones who fall. But behind so many public faces, especially in high-pressure, high-expectation environments, is a dangerous cycle.
Dr. Bennett: When bloggers and podcasters say, "Be the best," they don't realize they may be planting seeds that can grow into dangerous, delusional vines—if people aren't prepared with *realism* and *self-compassion*.
George Santos: So... how do you know if it's happening to you?
Dr. Bennett: Good question. There are signs. Here’s how to spot it early:
Dr. Bennett: When people notice these signs, it's time to pause. Find someone who knows you at your most honest. Ask for reality checks. Therapy helps. So does humility—real humility, not performative.
George Santos: [slowly] It's... so easy to slip into it. One little thing. Then another.
Dr. Bennett: Yes. Self-delusion doesn’t feel like a crash. It feels like a cozy staircase—one easy step at a time—until you realize you’re in the wrong building entirely.
George Santos: [softly] Maybe... maybe this is the first real thing I’ve done. Just... seeing it.
Dr. Bennett: That would be a good first real thing. And it’s never too late to rebuild your life from something real—brick by brick, choice by choice.
George Santos: Today was the first time in a long time that I stopped trying to manage how I was seen. I didn’t tell a story. I didn’t perform. I just listened—and it was uncomfortable in a way that felt... necessary.
George Santos: I always thought my biggest fear was failure. But maybe it was being forgotten. Being invisible. So I built a version of myself that could never be ignored. It worked... until it didn't.
George Santos: Listening to Dr. Bennett talk about imposter syndrome, grandiosity, and cognitive collapse — it was like hearing a blueprint of my own mind. Piece by piece, lie by lie, I turned myself into a construction too big to carry.
George Santos: I don't know if I'll ever fully make up for what I did. I can't undo the hurt. I can't reclaim the trust. But maybe I can start telling smaller truths—real ones—and build something from them.
George Santos: As I walk into this next chapter, as hard and painful as it will be, I want to remember what was said tonight:
George Santos: That’s where I’ll try to begin.