Retort: I Seek Truth (Freedom), Not Common “Wisdom” (Slavery)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses cognitive dissonance and how people often lie to themselves and others to defend their decisions, such as parents claiming that children bring happiness into their lives. He also talks about how abuse is often misperceived as love and how the truth sets people free. Vaknin emphasizes the importance of committing to facts and truth in psychology and warns against political correctness, fakes, falsities, lies, and new age nonsense. Finally, he recommends an article in the Daily Mail about narcissistic abuse.
4 Facts to Blow Your Mind: Abuse, Parenting, Stress, Marshmallows
In this transcript, Professor Sam Vaknin discusses four controversial topics in psychology. First, he states that parents are generally less happy than childless people, becoming happier when their children leave home. Second, he argues that abusive behavior in relationships can indicate love and emotional investment. Third, he claims that stress can be beneficial, while meditation and mindfulness can have negative effects. Lastly, he discusses the marshmallow test, suggesting that delayed gratification is influenced more by culture and society than by individual traits.
New Light on Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in DSM-5-TR and ICD-11
Psychology is currently in turmoil with new diagnostic texts, definitions, and clinical insights. The DSM-5 text revision and the ICD-11 both offer new approaches to understanding borderline personality disorder (BPD). The distinction between complex trauma and BPD is blurry, and some scholars argue that various personality disorders, including narcissistic and borderline, should be considered post-traumatic conditions. The ICD-11 has moved towards a dimensional approach, focusing on aspects like identity, empathy, and antagonism, suggesting that all personality disorders may be part of a single underlying clinical entity.
Antidepressants Scam, DSM Capitulation
Professor Sam Vaknin criticizes the field of psychology, particularly the use of antidepressants and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), for being influenced by money and celebrity rather than focusing on helping patients. He argues that the serotonin hypothesis, which claims that low serotonin levels cause depression, is a scam perpetuated by the pharmaceutical industry. Vaknin also highlights the flaws in the DSM, such as its vague and arbitrary diagnostic criteria, and its failure to transition from a categorical to a dimensional model. He calls for a reevaluation of the influence of the pharmaceutical and insurance industries on psychological research and treatment.
What’s Wrong with Voluntary Sex Work, Promiscuity? (EXCERPTS)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the changing gender roles and how women are adopting masculine traits. He argues that sex work is not morally or socially wrong and that it is a patriarchal judgment to condemn it. Vaknin distinguishes between sex work and promiscuity, stating that promiscuity is addictive and has negative outcomes, including fostering anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. He argues that sex positivity is a pernicious and dangerous ideology that has ruined the lives of countless young men and women and should be removed from the curricula of universities and higher education institutes.
Making Sense of Narcissistic Abuse
Narcissists are the result of early childhood abuse and are in a constant state of grief and mourning. They create a shared fantasy with their intimate partners, where they reenact their childhood traumas and use vicarious trauma and narcissistic abuse to weaken their partners. This cycle of abuse and trauma is meant to resolve the narcissist’s unresolved conflicts with their mother figure and restore a sense of power and control. The only solution for those involved with a narcissist is to go no contact to protect their mental well-being.
When Your Pain Traumatizes Others: Vicarious (Secondary) Trauma
Vicarious trauma, also known as secondary traumatic stress, occurs when an individual is exposed to another person’s traumatic experiences, leading to emotional and psychological distress. This phenomenon is common among mental health professionals, but can also affect loved ones and others who empathize with trauma survivors. Vicarious trauma can have severe consequences on an individual’s mental and physical health, as well as their personal and professional relationships. To cope with and prevent vicarious trauma, individuals should practice self-care, seek therapy, and work on building resilience and happiness.
Transformed Against Your Will Behind Narcissist’s Glass, Darkly (with Luke Elijah)
Dr. Sam Vaknin, a professor of psychology and finance, discusses the differences between bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, and psychopathy. He advises against confronting narcissists on their toxic behaviors and explains the psychology behind gaslighting and hoovering. Dr. Vaknin believes that while narcissists can change their behaviors, their internal state remains unchanged. He also clarifies the concept of healthy narcissism and expresses concern about the misinformation surrounding narcissism online.
Suicide: Why Choose Life, Not Death!
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the rising tide of suicidal ideation among people of all ages and cultures and provides a philosophical foundation for why people should choose life. He argues that existence is always richer in potential than non-existence and that life is full of potentials because it is complex and because of other people. He also criticizes modern society for presenting falsities, lies, manipulations, and life substitutes that limit people’s promise and suppress their free will. Ultimately, he urges people to choose themselves and realize that their existence alone suffices to steer everyone and everything in another direction and towards an alternative destiny.
Do We Create Reality, Is It a Hive Mind? (with Benny Hendel)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the idea that reality is observer-dependent, and that the mind creates reality via the process of intentionality. He suggests that the observer is not naive and does not collapse the wave function, but rather, the observer is not capable of seeing anything else but the collapsed state. Vaknin proposes that the universe has a DNA of order and structure, and that the role of human beings is to observe the universe and via the act of observation, to collapse it, creating order and structure. He suggests that with every act of collective observation, we are cementing the past of the universe, not just the present.