Autoerotism refers to sexual attraction or activity that does not involve a sexual object, such as being attracted to one’s own body or fantasizing about oneself as a different gender or age. Freud’s concept of autoerotism evolved throughout his career,
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the concept of separation individuation, which is a crucial phase in a child’s development where they learn to differentiate themselves from their mother and develop a sense of security. He proposes that there are three phases
Free will is a useful fiction that helps humans make sense of life and provides self-efficacious guidance. It is an article of faith rather than a fact or hypothesis, and has no place in modern scientific discourse. However, it is
In an interview, Sam Vaknin discusses the attraction of psychology, the impact it can have on people’s lives, and the importance of creativity and humility in the field. He also touches on the meaning of life, trauma, and the decline
Victims of childhood abuse tend to hate themselves and provoke others to hate them as well, as they feel more comfortable when despised and rejected. This self-destructive behavior is influenced by the reactions of adults in their environment, shaping their
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses various topics in these transcripts. He talks about the differences between sex addiction and love addiction, the importance of intimacy for self-love and self-awareness, and the dangers of the self-help industry. He also shares his observations
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses trauma bonding with Stephanie Carina, a clinical psychologist specializing in trauma and personality. Trauma bonding involves an extreme, one-sided attachment where the abused is attached to the abuser, but not vice versa. It is fostered by
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the three phases of separation individuation throughout life, which create a new self-state. The first phase occurs in early childhood, the second in adolescence, and the third when one develops full-fledged object relations with other people.
Inverted narcissism is a form of covert narcissism where the individual derives their narcissistic supply from an overt narcissist. They have a symbiotic relationship with the overt narcissist, as they receive attention and supply from them, even if it’s in
In this conversation, Sam Vaknin discusses the distinction between artificial and natural intelligence, arguing that intelligence is intelligence regardless of whether it is embedded in silicon or carbon. However, he notes that the problem is not creating intelligence, but rather