{"id":787,"date":"2013-07-20T05:42:28","date_gmt":"2013-07-20T05:42:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.joeldiana.com\/?page_id=787"},"modified":"2013-08-20T21:36:27","modified_gmt":"2013-08-20T21:36:27","slug":"new-model-of-addiction-in-the-guru-papers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.joeldiana.com\/?page_id=787","title":{"rendered":"Our New Model of Addiction in “The Guru Papers”"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

The Guru Papers<\/span>
<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Masks of Authoritarian Power<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/span>by Joel Kramer & Diana Alstad<\/span>

<\/span><\/h3>\r\n

“Who Is in Control?
\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0The Authoritarian Roots of Addiction”<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 (Chapter 3 in Part 2 of\u00a0<\/span>The Guru Papers<\/span><\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/strong>This chapter\u00a0<\/em><\/span>describes the psychodynamics of addictions involving an inner battle for control within a divided self. It also critiques the disease and responsibility models. It stands on its own and\u00a0can be read independently. Although the preceding chapter subtitled “Why It Feels Good to Be Bad<\/strong>” on the origin of the divided self can be a useful supplement, so the two chapters could be viewed as a unit.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n

\"Guru<\/a>
Comments on “Who Is in Control”<\/span>

<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>“The chapter on addiction presents an exciting and provocative new concept about the origin and process of addiction. A must read for therapists and addiction counselors.”<\/span>
<\/i>\u2014Dr. Ann McKain<\/strong>,\u00a0past President of the American Academy of Psychotherapists<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n

The chapter on addiction “provides a profound and compelling account of the way that most of us are divided against ourselves; locked in an endless battle between warring aspects of our being. [Kramer and Alstad’s] lucid account of why the vast majority of us are split into two \u2013 and how we might become whole \u2013 is a fascinating model of the psychology of addictive behavior. It is a\u00a0tour-de-force<\/em>\u00a0that shines a powerful light on a wide range of difficulties in living\u2026[including] self-mistrust\u2026.Their writings have been an indispensable resource in my clinical work with troubled souls, helping me liberate people from the self-imposed shackles of imprisoning ideals and behavior; and fostering a life of greater freedom, authenticity and passion.”<\/span>
\u2014 Dr. Jeffrey B. Rubin<\/strong>,\u00a0Psychotherapy & Buddhism;<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>The Art of Flourishing<\/span>
\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n

Reviews of the chapter<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n

“\u2026[The addiction chapter’s] interesting thesis is that in any so-called self-destructive repetitive behavior, one is never truly out of control, but rather divided parts of oneself are fighting for control. Kramer and Alstad take on the disease model\u2026.They also critique what they call \u201cresponsibility models\u201d\u2026.[arguing] that neither gets at the root of what\u2019s going on. As a long time researcher\u2026of addiction, I found [their chapter] a refreshing analysis of predominant theories of substance abuse. [Their] own model of the divided psyche, and \u201cwhy it feels good to be bad\u201d was not only original but resonant.\u201d \u00a0
<\/a>\u2014 <\/strong>Journal of Psychoactive Drugs<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>(review by Dr. Marsha Rosenbaum<\/strong><\/em>)\u00a0\u00a0pdf of complete review

<\/a><\/span><\/p>\r\n

[The authors argue that a divided self explains the root causes addictive behavior. In their paradigm] “it is the divide itself that is responsible for the loss of control, and it is through the integration of the two selves that true recovery takes place….The basis of their premise is that the individual internalizes an unreachable ideal self which the authors call the \u201cgoodself\u201d and the opposite of that called the \u201cbadself\u201d which the individual creates because of being unable to attain the unattainable. This \u201cbadself\u201d uses addictive behavior to \u201cknock out\u201d or incapacitate the \u201cgoodself\u201d so the \u201cbadself\u201d is free to express itself in ways it normally can\u2019t. As they say in their book, \u201cFeeling out of control really means the goodself is not in control, but instead an unacceptable part of oneself is.\u201d<\/span>
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0….Kramer and Alstad are adding something different [to the notion of a divided self] because they believe that it is the demonizing or devaluing of the \u201cbadself\u201d and over valuing the \u201cgoodself\u201d that results in the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of addiction and many other human problems.<\/span>
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 For instance, our \u201cgoodself\u201d may be punctual, orderly, organized and popular with authority figures, but our \u201cbadself\u201d may be creative, loyal and democratic. \u00a0It is because our culture…overvalues the \u201cgoodself\u201d and its librarian-like qualities that we need to indulge in the guilty pleasure of the \u201cbadself\u201d in the form of drugs, sex and rock and roll. In the process of recovery, therefore, the aim ought to be not the suppression of the \u201cbadself\u201d or the glorification of the \u201cgoodself\u201d, but rather integration of the two. We can learn that some of the qualities we may find unacceptable in ourselves, such as being judgmental, uncompassionate and hypocritical may come from the \u201cgoodself\u201d and that some of the qualities we admire in ourselves come from the \u201cbadself\u201d, such as being fun-loving, being brave and thinking outside the box.”<\/span>
\u2014\u00a0<\/strong>Web r<\/strong>eview<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0by Charles Dollins<\/strong>, drug and alcoholism counselor at LifeRing Secular Recovery \u00a0(12\/2012)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

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