Sam Vaknin discusses the concepts of patriotism, nationalism, and narcissism. He explains how nationalism is exclusionary and oppositional, while patriotism is inclusive and concerned with the here and now. Vaknin also delves into the narcissist’s defense mechanisms, emphasizing the narcissist’s
Narcissists and psychopaths may possess empathy, but they use it as a weapon to extract narcissistic supply or in the pursuit of antisocial and sadistic goals. They empathize with their possessions, objects, pets, and other sources of narcissistic supply or
Narcissists have the ability to see through other people’s emotional shields and know when they are deviating from the truth. They can intuitively grasp other people’s self-interested goals and accurately predict their strategies and tactics. Narcissists can’t stand self-important, self-inflated,
The lack of emotional self-acceptance is a problem that cannot be solved by cognitive substitutes. The root of the problem is the inner dialogue between disparaging voices and countervailing truths to the contrary. The disordered dialogue, the dysfunctional, the non-performing
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) is the bible of the psychiatric and psychological profession. The DSM-5 provides diagnostic criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder, but these criteria are deeply flawed and do not reflect the knowledge accumulated over the last
Narcissists cannot delay gratification and are creatures of the here and now. They cannot form stable relationships, maintain a job or career path, or accumulate material wealth. The narcissist’s life is characterized by jerky, episodic careers, relationships, marriages, and domiciles.
Narcissists and codependents possess introgets, which are inner voices that are mostly negative and sadistic. These voices enhance the narcissist’s underlying ego destiny, rendering them unhappy with who they are and discontent with the way they act. The narcissist’s sense
The narcissist constructs a false self that is godlike and seeks admiration, adulation, and attention from others. They create a narrative of their life that is partly confabulated to prove the veracity of their grandiose claims. However, reality intrudes, and
The author describes his experience of dissociative amnesia, where he has no recollection of events, people, or emotions. He questions why some memories are retained while others are discarded, and concludes that he only retains information that can help him
The system, including academic institutions, law enforcement agencies, and the courts, often fails to take victims of abuse seriously and instead pathologizes and diminishes them. This is due to a lack of education and awareness about abuse and domestic violence.