Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the differences between self-confidence, high self-esteem, and narcissism in this lecture. He explains that healthy self-esteem involves self-acceptance and self-love, while narcissism is compensatory and volatile. He delves into the concept of attribution errors and how
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses dealing with narcissists in a corporate environment, advising to either disconnect or use the “gray rock” method to render oneself uninteresting to the narcissist. He warns of the dangers of challenging or humiliating a narcissist, as
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the concepts of catastrophizing and apocalyptic behavior in narcissists and individuals with borderline personality disorder. He explains that both engage in exaggerating outcomes and introducing crises into their lives, despite having different cognitive and emotional styles.
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the concept of a “good object” as a constellation of voices that inform an individual of their worth and value. He explains how individuals with borderline personality disorder possess a compensatory good object, which serves to
In this lecture, Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the etymology of the word “happiness” and its historical meanings. He explains that happiness was originally associated with luck, prosperity, and wealth. He outlines the three components of happiness, which include managing one’s
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the success of narcissists and psychopaths in society, attributing it to their ability to thrive in a world that values fantasy and manipulation of symbols in fantastic spaces. He explains the distinction between “cat” narcissists and
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses how various types of dysfunctional fathers can impact the development and expression of pathological narcissism in their children. He explains that while the formation of pathological narcissism occurs in the first 36 months of life and
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the concept of the narcissist shared fantasy as a form of reaction formation. He explains that reaction formation is a defense mechanism in which unacceptable impulses are replaced with their exact opposite in consciousness. This mechanism
Passive aggression is a pervasive and toxic form of aggression that is difficult to detect and can be very damaging. It is a tool used by weak and envious individuals who are unable to express overt aggression. Backhanded compliments and
Narcissists and psychopaths are facing increasing difficulties in finding victims due to heightened awareness and stigmatization of their behaviors. As victim awareness grows and behaviors associated with narcissistic abuse become criminalized, the pool of potential targets shrinks. This leads to