Ukraine conflict: Bristol psychologist offers glimpse inside the mind of Putin

What’s going on inside the head of the world’s most dangerous man?

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has sparked fury across the globe, including here in Bristol where hundreds turned out to a vigil to condemn the attacks yesterday.

The vast majority of the world stands with Ukraine including many of Putin’s own people, yet nobody has intervened - seemingly bowing to the wishes of one ruthless individual.

When BristolWorld interviewed a Ukrainian woman living in Bristol on Thursday, she told us she believed the Russian people were ‘just as much a victim’and that she blamed Putin alone for the horrific events of the past few days.

For Bristol University psychologist and lecturer Dr Nilufar Ahmed, Putin’s psyche is ‘fascinating’.

She told BristolWorld: “He’s a very unique political figure who’s been around for a long time and consistently had that same dominant personality in every situation.

“The elements of ‘the dark triad’ - narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy - are all present.

“He’s calculated and always very much in control of the spaces he’s in.

“Watch him in a room with another world leader, and it’s entirely clear who owns that space.”

If Putin is so despised, why do other world leaders sit back and allow him to do what he wants?

Dr Ahmed went on: “Putin has been very stealthy by investing into the powers that could stand up and challenge him. He’s been playing the long game.

“We’re baffled that other world leaders are sitting by and doing nothing, but the fact is that nobody is taking any meaningful action because Russia controls so many of our resources.

“Brexit has also made this easier for Putin, as it has further dismantled the powers that might have made a difference.

“What I find interesting is how Putin is always so calm - though cold, he comes across as charming and not remotely what you would think of as aggresive.

“It’s this calmness that throws people off and causes a kind of dissociation - it confuses us and causes us to think, even for a short while - is what’s happening really that bad?”

As a psychotherapist, Dr Ahmed said that many people had told her they were grappling with an ‘overwhelming sense of helplessness’ over the conflict.

She gave this advice for those who are struggling: “This is a shared response, and I think there is some comfort in that.

“These are grotesque crimes, families are being torn apart and lives are being lost, it’s normal to feel as you do.

“Understanding that you’re not alone in this process will help.

“There are things you can do to help the people of Ukraine from where you are, such as amplifying the voices of those on the ground on social media.

“Small acts like that can make a difference. It is a fundamental human need to be heard and seen.

Dr Ahmed added: “Going forward, it will be interesting to see what our government do. They are already at the centre of their own scandals and investigations.

“I think part of the reason people in the UK are so worried is because we can’t seem to trust our own government, who we’d normally look to for guidance during a crisis.

“They have imposed sanctions, but are they really effective? Nobody is expendable from a human expectation, but do other world leaders think Ukraine is politically expendable? We’re sat glued to our screens, waiting.”