Never Both: Either Healing OR Behavior Modification in Cluster B Personality Disorders (Conference)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the conundrum of personality disorders, particularly Cluster B disorders, and their relationship to behavior and internal psychodynamics. He explores the disconnect between internal healing and persistent dysfunctional behaviors, attributing it to factors such as dissociative self-states, anxiety, and identity disturbance. Vaknin emphasizes the challenges in treating these disorders and the need for innovative approaches. He recommends literature on the topic and concludes by highlighting the difficulty in achieving behavior modification in these patients.
Narcissist’s Impossible Jigsaw Puzzle
Narcissists are fascinating due to their contradictory traits and behaviors. They can be highly intelligent and creative, yet emotionally immature and self-destructive. They can appear self-sufficient but are extremely dependent on others for validation. These disconnects challenge our understanding of psychology, as narcissists seem to defy the typical integration of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects of a person. Narcissism remains a perplexing and unchanging phenomenon, providing valuable insights into the human mind.
Borderline’s Miracle Healing
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health issue that affects 1-2% of the general population. Contrary to popular belief, BPD is not untreatable and has a positive prognosis over time. Studies have shown that most patients with BPD improve with time, and by age 45, a significant portion of patients will have healed spontaneously. However, while the disorder may remit, some dysfunctional behaviors persist, and there is a need for a two-step treatment approach: first, tackle the core disorder, and then focus on teaching the recovered patient functional skills.
Resist Narcissism, Grassroots Up! (Interview with Dr. Lisa Alastuey)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the rise of narcissism and psychopathy in modern society, which he attributes to social, cultural, and historical trends, as well as the prevalence of technology. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing the difference between healthy narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder, and the need to focus on being genuine, authentic, and assertive while recognizing limitations and shortcomings. Vaknin advocates for anti-narcissism at the individual level and rebuilding institutions to channel collective empowerment. He also warns of the dangers of social media and pornography, which he believes are killing us and leading to a disconnect among young people.
Anxious Psychopath, Borderline Mask
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the concept of the narcissistic masochist, a type of personality disorder characterized by seeking rejection, deriving pleasure from self-pity, having a harsh superego, experiencing envy, feeling wronged, and having a fluctuating self-esteem. He also mentions that the narcissistic masochistic position is not about pleasure in pain, but rather the position of submission, which provides a sense of safety and well-being. Lastly, he clarifies the difference between neuroticism and neurosis, with the former being a personality trait and the latter being an obsolete term for a group of disorders.
Borderline vs. Narcissist Idealization Fantasies
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the differences between the borderline’s shared fantasy and the narcissist’s shared fantasy. He explains that both borderline and narcissist have similarities, but their internal psychodynamics are very different. The borderline has empathy and overwhelming emotions, while the narcissist lacks emotional empathy and experiences only negative emotions. The shared fantasies of the borderline and the narcissist are also different, with the borderline having a variety of shared fantasies and the narcissist having a simpler, maternal-based shared fantasy. Both types of individuals end up in a victim role, leading to a cycle of idealization and demonization in their relationships.
PTSD: Emotional Numbing, Reduced Affect Display (25th Intl. Conference Neurology & Neurophysiology)
Emotional numbing, a core feature of PTSD, is a phenomenon where trauma survivors experience restrictions in their emotional experiences. Recent developments in understanding trauma have led to the reconceptualization of personality disorders as post-traumatic conditions. There are two types of PTSD: externalizing, where trauma is projected, and internalizing, where trauma destroys the ability to emote, leading to emotional numbing. Emotional numbing can be a temporary defense mechanism against overwhelming anxiety, but if it becomes a permanent state, it can lead to psychiatric disorders and dissociation.
Staring Into Abyss: Failed Healer’s Confession
Therapists, psychologists, counselors, and coaches can be traumatized by their work, especially when they encounter patients who are beyond help. These patients have minds that are tangled messes, and therapists can be drawn inexorably deeper into their primordial jungle, knowing that it could spell their own doom. When a therapist comes across a patient like this, they are liable to lose their mind, and it is a terrifying experience. Therapists can burn out, melt down, act out, decompensate, and dysregulate, and they can react very badly.
Masochistic Covert Antinarcissist
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses anti-narcissism and its connection to sexual self-trashing and masochism. He explains that anti-narcissism is a form of narcissism where emotional and cognitive resources are externalized, and the individual invests in self-generated narcissistic supply. He delves into the concept of masochism and its role in the grandiosity of the anti-narcissistic covert narcissist, as well as the transition of narcissists to the masochistic position.
High-functioning Autism: Psychopathy? Narcissism?
High-functioning autism (HFA) is often misdiagnosed as narcissistic personality disorder or psychopathy due to similarities in behavior, such as a lack of empathy, brain abnormalities, and criminal behavior. However, there are key differences between HFA and these personality disorders, such as language skills and social functioning. While HFA is a brain disorder with no intellectual disability, narcissism and psychopathy are personality disorders that can be linked to early childhood experiences and trauma. It is important not to make snap judgments when observing someone’s behavior, as the distinctions between these disorders are complex and nuanced.