Adore Trump to get on his right side!

In his first month back in the White House, Donald Trump has been a tempest of change and, in the eyes of many, destruction.

- ROBERT J. FOUSER

On domestic policy, he has focused on the culture wars and remaking the federal government in his image. On foreign policy, he has imposed tariffs while positioning himself as a peacemaker and an imperialist. The storm has been filled with contradictory messages that have left many countries scrambling. What is going on?

To answer this question, it's important to consider the psychological motivations behind Trump's actions. Some leaders base their actions on a set of core beliefs. In US history, Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr. are prime examples, and in South Korean history, Kim Dae-jung fits in this group. Strong core beliefs help these leaders stay focused on long-term goals amid adversity and temporary setbacks.

Other leaders base their actions on a bold response to a crisis. In US history, Franklin D. Roosevelt epitomizes this category, but others before and after him fit into the category.

And then there is the category of leaders who base their actions on various psychological needs. Trump belongs in this category, which makes it difficult to predict what he will do.

To be sure, all leaders have psychological needs, just like everybody else, but the difference with Trump is that he bases his actions on them far more than most leaders do.