Neglected Dimensions of Personality (Lecture for Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the second year of personality theory and its relation to identity. He emphasizes the importance of considering culture and society in understanding mental health disorders, which are highly culture-bound. He also discusses the concept of psychosis and how it challenges the distinction between internal and external reality. Additionally, he argues that the delusion of identity and personality is a confabulation created by the brain to survive, and that psychology has made the mistake of assuming the existence of the individual. He raises questions about the medicalization of psychology and the relationship between the brain and the mind.
Cold Therapy: Treat Narcissism and Depression (30th World Psychiatrists and Psychologists Meet)
Cold Therapy is a new treatment modality for narcissistic personality disorder developed by Professor Sam Vaknin. It treats pathological narcissism as a post-traumatic condition and uses techniques borrowed from child psychology and trauma therapy. Cold Therapy aims to re-traumatize the patient in a controlled environment, allowing them to emerge as a healthier adult with firm boundaries and a stable sense of self-worth. The treatment consists of 25 proprietary techniques, including erasure, hypervigilant referencing, grandiosity reframing, and happiness mapping.
Narcissism as Addiction (ICABS 2019: International Conference on Addiction and Behavioral Science)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the idea of recasting narcissistic disorders of the self as addictions. He explains that pathological narcissism is a form of addiction to narcissistic supply, which is the narcissist’s drug of choice. The pursuit of narcissistic supply is frenetic and compulsive, and when it is missing, the narcissist resorts to abnormal narcissistic supply by behaving recklessly, succumbing to substance abuse, or living dangerously. Narcissists faced with a chronic state of deficient narcissistic supply become criminals, race drivers, gamblers, soldiers, policemen, investigative journalists, or develop phobias, fear, and anxiety.
Choosing a Good Psychotherapist
Psychotherapy has evolved from dogmatic scores to modern methods such as brief therapy, a common factors approach, and eclectic techniques. All therapies have common factors such as the patient seeking help, disclosure and confidences, and the development of mutual trust and respect. Good therapy empowers the client and enhances their ability to properly gauge reality, leading to a stable sense of self-worth, well-being, and competence. Eclectic psychotherapy borrows tools and techniques from a myriad of therapeutic systems, and the only principle that guides modern therapies is what works. Psychological theories of personality provide guidelines as to which treatment modalities should be considered in any given situation and for any given patient.
Narcissist’s Addiction Atypical
There is little empirical research on the correlation between personality traits and addictive behaviors. Narcissism is an addiction to narcissistic supply, which is the narcissist’s drug of choice. Narcissists derive pleasure from addictive and reckless behaviors, which sustain and enhance their grandiose fantasies. Narcissism is an adaptive behavior, while addiction is self-destructive and has no adaptive value.
Can Narcissism be Cured?
Pathological narcissism is difficult to cure, and most narcissists resist psychotherapy. However, some progress has been made in effecting small changes in personality disorders through talk therapy and medication. The earlier the therapeutic intervention, the better the prognosis, and aging tends to moderate or even vanquish some antisocial behaviors associated with pathological narcissism. The existence of empathy is a serious predictor of future psychodynamics, and the prognosis for a classical narcissist with grandiosity, lack of empathy, and all is not good as far as long-term, lasting, and complete healing.
Narcissists: Difficult and Hateful Patients
Patients with personality disorders often evoke dislike or hatred in their physicians, with the narcissistic patient being the worst. They insist they are equal to the psychotherapist in knowledge, experience, or social status, and resist psychotherapy. Management of personality disorders consists largely of helping the person find a way of life that conflicts less with their character, and aims should be modest. Healthcare professionals who treat patients with personality disorders may experience resentment, alienation, and burnout.
Adolescent Narcissist: “Donovan”
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the difference between healthy narcissism in adolescence and full-fledged narcissistic personality disorder. He writes a letter to the adoptive mother of a 16-year-old boy named Donovan, who is a pathological narcissist. Donovan is incapable of love due to his childhood abuse, and he only shows love to achieve his goals. He is a danger to himself and others, and treatment is not very effective. Vaknin advises the adoptive mother to condition her love and sign a contract with Donovan if she wishes to engage with him.