ISSN: 2573-9565 Research Article Journal of Clinical Review & Case Reports Cold Therapy and Narcissistic Disorders of the Self Sam Vaknin *Corresponding author Dr. Sam Vaknin, Visiting Professor of Psychology, Southern Federal University, Visiting Professor of Psychology, Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia, E-mail: [email protected] Rostov-on-Don, Russia Submitted: 23 July 2018; Accepted: 27 July 2018; Published: 06 Aug 2018 Abstract For well over a century, since the publication of Freud’s seminal “On Narcissism” in 1914, pathological narcissism was widely considered to be a disorder of the “character” or the personality. This culminated in the 1980s and 1990s with the inclusion of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) in the third, fourth and text revision editions of the Diagnostic and statistical Manual (DSM). Cold Therapy is based on two premises: (1) That narcissistic disorders are actually forms of complex post-traumatic conditions and not disorders of the personality; and (2) That narcissists are the outcomes of arrested development and attachment dysfunctions. Consequently, Cold Therapy borrows techniques from child psychology and from treatment modalities used to deal with PTSD. Cold Therapy consists of the re-traumatization of the narcissistic client in a hostile, non-holding environment which resembles the ambience of the original trauma. The adult patient successfully tackles this second round of hurt and thus resolves early childhood conflicts and achieves closure rendering his now maladaptive narcissistic defenses redundant, unnecessary, and obsolete. In the process, both transference and countertransference are encouraged in order to most closely recreate the roles of the original “perpetrator” of abuse (abuser) and his or her victim (the patient or client). Cold Therapy makes use of proprietary techniques such as erasure (suppressing the client’s speech and free expression and gaining clinical information and insights from his reactions to being so stifled). Other techniques include: grandiosity reframing, guided imagery, negative iteration, other-scoring, happiness map, mirroring, escalation, role play, assimilative confabulation, hyper vigilant referencing, and re-parenting. Paper Pathological narcissism is also not an adult disorder but an Reconceiving Pathological Narcissism attachment dysfunction coupled with arrested development. It is For well over a century, since the publication of Freud’s seminal “On therefore reactive to techniques borrowed from child psychology. Narcissism” in 1914, pathological narcissism was widely considered to be a disorder of the “character” or the personality. This culminated Finally: pathological narcissism can also be conceived not as a in the 1980s and 1990s with the inclusion of Narcissistic Personality disorder of the self, but as an interpersonal disorder. Disorder (NPD) in the third, fourth and text revision editions of the Diagnostic and statistical Manual (DSM). “When alarmed, child seeks proximity to caregiver (safe base). But proximity to frightening caregiver increases alarm” (Hazen There are four misconceptions about pathological narcissism: and McFarland, 2010). The child reacts by attaching itself to an a. It is not only a regression to an earlier childhood developmental imaginary caregiver: the narcissist’s False Self is godlike in its phase; perfection, omniscience, and omnipotence. In some way, narcissism b. It is not merely a psychological defense; can be construed as a private religion with the False Self as the deity. c. It is not simply an organizing principle or a schema; d. It is not a personality disorder. Re-traumatization as Healing Foa and Kozak were the first to explore traumatization as a curative Pathological narcissism is a post-traumatic condition, amenable to process (1985). It: trauma therapies. It is a reaction to prolonged abuse and trauma in a. Resolves early conflicts; early childhood or early adolescence. The source of the abuse or b. Achieves closure; trauma is immaterial - the perpetrators could be parents, teachers, c. Counters avoidance, helplessness, and depression other adults, or peers. Pampering, smothering, spoiling, and “engulfing” the child are also forms of abuse. J Clin Rev Case Rep, 2018 Volume 3 | Issue 6 | 1 of 7 Via a controlled and tiered triggering of the client (trauma simulation, no one would like to be with me”), the itemizing of our inner stressing) in a deliberately hostile and non-holding environment dialogues and narratives and of our repeated behavioural patterns which aims to generate a facsimile of the environment of the Primary (learned behaviours) coupled with positive (and, rarely, negative) or Originating Trauma. reinforcements – are used to induce a cumulative emotional effect tantamount to healing. The adult patient emerges from the ordeal “alive and well”: he survives the re-traumatization and successfully copes with it, this Psychodynamic theories reject the notion that cognition can influence time as an adult. emotion. Healing requires access to and the study of much deeper strata by both patient and therapist. The very exposure of these The patient’s maladaptive narcissism (cognitions, beliefs, emotions) strata to the therapeutic is considered sufficient to induce a dynamic is rendered redundant, unnecessary, and obsolete as a coping strategy. of healing. As a consequence of the principle of mental economy (the optimal allocation of mental resources to foster and uphold functionality), The therapist’s role is either to interpret the material revealed to the client discards his pathological narcissism. the patient (psychoanalysis) by allowing the patient to transfer past experience and superimpose it on the therapist – or to provide The construct of the False Self survives this process as godlike a safe emotional and holding environment conducive to changes (private religion), an inverted and compensatory self-image, a signal in the patient. (it elicits supply), a decoy for pain and hurt. It re-interprets the narcissist’s behaviors and actions in a socially-acceptable light, and The sad fact is that no known therapy is effective with narcissism emulates (combines cold empathy with emotional resonance tables). itself, though a few therapies are reasonably successful as far as coping with some of its effects goes (behavioural modification). The Goals of Cold Therapy Process trauma via skilled reliving Dynamic Psychotherapy, or Psychodynamic Therapy, Foster more adaptive functioning Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Replace negative with positive coping This is not psychoanalysis. It is an intensive psychotherapy based Integrate distressing materials (thoughts, feelings, memories) on psychoanalytic theory without the (very important) element of Lead to internal resolution and homeostasis free association. This is not to say that free association is not used in Aid the growth of skills: resilience, ego regulation, empathy these therapies – only that it is not a pillar of the technique. Dynamic therapies are usually applied to patients not considered “suitable” for The Narcissist in Therapy psychoanalysis (such as those suffering from personality disorders, Narcissism pervades the entire personality. It is all-pervasive. Being a except the Avoidant PD). narcissist is akin to being an alcoholic but much more so. Alcoholism is an impulsive behaviour. Narcissists exhibit dozens of similarly Typically, different modes of interpretation are employed and other reckless behaviours, some of them uncontrollable (like their rage, techniques borrowed from other treatments modalities. But the the outcome of their wounded grandiosity). Narcissism is not a material interpreted is not necessarily the result of free association vocation or a choice. Narcissism resembles depression or other or dreams and the psychotherapist is a lot more active than the disorders and cannot be changed at will. psychoanalyst. Adult pathological narcissism is no more “curable” than the entirety Psychodynamic therapies are open-ended. At the commencement of of one’s personality is disposable. The patient is a narcissist. the therapy, the therapist (analyst) makes an agreement (a “pact” or Narcissism is more akin to the colour of one’s skin rather than to “alliance”) with the analysand (patient or client). The pact says that one’s choice of subjects at the university. the patient undertakes to explore his problems for as long as may be needed. This is supposed to make the therapeutic environment There are many types of narcissists: Overt/classic/grandiose, much more relaxed because the patient knows that the analyst is at covert/shy/fragile/vulnerable, inverted, somatic, cerebral, acquired his/her disposal no matter how many meetings would be required situational, high-functioning/exhibitionist, in order to broach painful subject matter. Moreover, Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is frequently Sometimes, these therapies are divided to expressive versus diagnosed with other, even more intractable personality disorders, supportive, but I regard this division as misleading. mental illnesses, and substance abuse. Comorbidity is common with other personality, eating, mood disorders and autism spectrum Expressive means uncovering (making conscious) the patient’s disorders. conflicts and studying his or her defences and resistances. The analyst interprets the conflict in view of the new knowledge gained Treatment modalities used with narcissism: CBT/CEBT/REBT, and guides the therapy towards a resolution of the conflict.