In this transcript, Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the rise of narcissism in society and its connection to social media. He suggests that social media has become a potent drug that fosters addiction, depression, and anxiety, especially among vulnerable age groups.
Trauma can lead to a triggering cascade, where a seemingly minor trigger results in vastly disproportionate trauma. Narcissists and psychopaths are adept at provoking triggering cascades by frustrating individual and social expectations. Trauma imprinting is at the core of post-traumatic
Narcissism is on the rise due to societal changes that encourage self-promotion and attention-seeking behavior. Narcissists are pro-social and dependent on others for validation, while psychopaths are anti-social and do not depend on others. Narcissism is considered an environmental condition,
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the differences between Asperger’s and narcissistic personality disorder, stating that while they may exhibit similar behaviors, their motivations are different. He also talks about his cold therapy treatment for pathological narcissism and depression, but notes that
Flat attachment is a type of attachment style where people are incapable of bonding or relatedness to others. They commodify people and treat them as replaceable objects. Flat attachment is common among narcissists and psychopaths. With the rise of dating
Narcissism and psychopathy are more about social dysfunction than mental health issues, with trauma victims developing severe narcissistic and psychopathic behaviors. Narcissism is an emerging religion, where narcissists deify themselves and consider themselves to be gods. Serial killers have a
Dissonance, or inner conflict, is a powerful force that can lead to addictive, traumatic, or post-traumatic behaviors. While cognitive dissonance is widely discussed, there are many other types of dissonance, including volitional, emotional, axiological, deontic, and attitude dissonance. Dissonance can
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the psychology and potential psychopathology of Jesus Christ, suggesting that he may have been a narcissist. He supports this claim by analyzing passages from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, highlighting instances of Jesus’ grandiosity, lack of
Addiction should be viewed in a new light, as it is the natural state of humanity. Addictions are powerful, organized, and explanatory principles that provide life with meaning, purpose, and direction. Addictions are ways to regulate emotions, modulate interpersonal relationships,
Psychoanalysis, initially developed by Sigmund Freud, has been influential in the field of psychology but is now considered more of a literary exercise than a scientific practice. Critics argue that it lacks empirical support and is ambiguous in its explanations