Narcissists Know They're Abusive: New Interview with Dr. Peter Salerno

Narcissists know they are being abusive--that what they're doing is manipulative and exploitative. This week, Dr. Peter Salerno is back to discuss his latest book, Traumatizing Cognitive Dissonance. He discusses with Lisa Sonni why abusive relationships with narcissists leave survivors feeling psychologically battered and confused. Are you looking for help battling the mental confusion caused by a narcissist? Dr. Salerno gives practical steps to reduce this mental confusion so that mental clarity and peace are possible again in this week's Substack Breaking Free Podcast Extra. Get immediate access to this and other exclusive interviews when you join here: substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuse To Learn More About Dr. Peter Salerno: Website: https://www.drpetersalerno.com For a Copy of Dr. Salerno’s Books: Traumatic Cognitive Dissonance: Healing From An Abusive Relationship With A Disordered Personality: https://amzn.to/4hUJdKj The Nature and Nurture of Narcissism: Understanding Narcissistic Personality Disorder from the Perspective of Gene - Environment Interaction: https://amzn.to/4aEvWCW ******************* Stay in Touch with US! Kerry McAvoy, PhD Youtube -    / kerrymcavoyphd   Instagram -   / kerrymcavoyphd   TikTok -   / kerrymcavoyphd   Facebook -   / kerrymcavoyphd   Lisa Sonni Youtube -    / @lisasonni   Instagram -   / _stronger_than_before_coach   Tiktok -   / _stronger_than_before   Facebook -   / strongerthanbeforecoaching   Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D. Dr. Kerry, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse podcast and offers trauma-related advice on social media. Lisa Sonni Lisa Sonni is a certified Life & Relationship Coach, specializing in trauma bond recovery and abuse education, who helps clients from all walks of life overcome challenges stemming from traumatic partnerships. She has published an online self-guided course, The Trauma Bond Recovery Course, and several books, The Trauma Bond Recovery Journal, and Surviving to Thriving: A Six-Step Blueprint to Narcissistic Abuse Healing and Recovery. With 7 professional certifications and her own personal experience as a survivor of narcissistic abuse, her expertise is geared towards getting clients to a good space in their lives and within themselves. Lisa has two children and enjoys cooking, reading, and walks. She is a popular content creator on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube under the name Stronger Than Before with over 1M followers, where she educates people on abuse tactics, narcissism and domestic violence.  She has helped thousands of women exit and rebuild their lives. 00:00 Introduction 00:42 The Myth of "Everyone Is Good" 01:38 Understanding Cognitive Dissonance 03:13 The Struggle of Contradictory Beliefs 05:22 Why Victims Think They're the Problem 06:48 The Damaging Effect of Verbal Abuse 09:31 The Narcissist's Implantation of False Beliefs 11:05 The Intentionality of the Confusion 14:07 Personality Disorders Don't Learn from Experience 16:20 The Value of Finding Support to Heal 18:12 What Psychology Graduate Programs Get Wrong 20:45 The Problem with the Narcissist's Black and White Thinking 23:08 Is There Hope and Healing for Narcissists? 25:35 Conclusion