“Twin Flames” and Their “Empaths”: Danse Macabre
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the dangerous dynamics of the “twin flame” relationship, warning that those who believe they have found their twin flame are likely being manipulated by a narcissist or psychopath. He explains how the twin flame idealizes and controls the individual, leading to a state of merger and fusion that compromises personal autonomy. Vaknin also criticizes the self-aggrandizing label of “empath,” cautioning against falling into a pattern of grandiosity and dependency. He emphasizes the detrimental effects of allowing the twin flame to control one’s emotions and thoughts, leading to isolation and paranoia.
Watch This to Make Sense of the World
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the history of politics and the role of elites in subjugating the masses. He explains how the elites use psychological manipulation techniques on the masses via the middle class and divide religions and philosophical systems into three options. He also discusses the geopolitical implications of the pandemic, including the decline of the United States and the rise of China and Russia. He advises small countries to adopt a neutral stance between East and West and encourages people to opt out, minimize consumption, and fight back through civil disobedience and passive resistance.
Narcissistic Grief in Pandemic (Intl. Conference on Psychiatry and Mental Health)
Professor Sam Vaknin discussed the narcissist’s conflicted attitude towards disability, illness, and accidents, and how it ties into the COVID-19 pandemic. He explained that the pandemic has elicited two types of responses: grief-related responses and narcissistic defenses. Narcissists, especially somatic narcissists, are more likely to experience coronaphobia or generalized anxiety disorders than the general population. Vaknin also touched upon the five-stage model of grieving and how it applies to people’s reactions to the pandemic.
NOT Alpha Males: Narcissists and Psychopaths
Sam Vaknin, a professor of psychology, discusses the concept of the alpha male in scholarly research. He critiques the misinterpretation of alpha males by groups like MGTOW and Incels, and emphasizes the importance of distinguishing alpha males from narcissists and psychopaths. He also delves into topics such as script analysis, the Johari window, and the characteristics of alpha males. He emphasizes the importance of empathy, collaboration, and self-awareness in true alpha males.
Your Child At Risk: How Narcissists Are Made
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the origins of narcissism, the debate surrounding its nature, and its impact on children. He explores the role of parents in shaping a child’s self-concept and the development of narcissistic traits. Vaknin delves into the psychological defense mechanisms and behaviors of narcissists, emphasizing the impact of early experiences on the formation of pathological narcissism. He also highlights the complex dynamics of narcissistic supply and the manipulation of reality by narcissistic personalities.
Anxious People – Narcissists? (2nd Webinar on Stress and Depression Management)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses anxiety from various angles, including the philosophical angle. He explains that anxiety disorders are often misdiagnosed as narcissistic personality disorder because both types of patients are worried about social approval and seek feedback, admiration, and applause. However, the narcissist is egosyntonic, while the anxious patient is egodystonic. Anxiety is an essential component of existence, bad faith existence, inauthentic existence, and authentic existence. Anxiety is intimately connected to the schizoid core of personality disorder, to the need to maintain an authentic existence, and it’s intimately connected to narcissistic spectacle, to displays of grandiosity, to attempts to solicit narcissistic supply.
Relationships Inauthentic, Will Always Fail (Sartre’s “Being and Nothingness”, SECOND LECTURE)
The text discusses Sartre’s views on desire, consciousness, and freedom. Sartre introduces the concept of desire as motivated by a lack or absence, and discusses the inherent contradiction in desire. He also delves into the nature of consciousness and the limitations of freedom. The text explores Sartre’s ideas on authenticity and ethics, and his belief that values are auto-generated through individual choices. The author reflects on Sartre’s contributions and his impact on philosophical discourse.
Ego is Opposite of Narcissism: Ego Functions
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the concept of ego functions and their role in personality and mental health. Ego functions include reality testing, impulse control, regulation of emotions, judgment, object relations, thinking, defenses, and synthesis. A healthy ego is essential for proper functioning and maintaining a coherent identity. However, there are inherent problems and contradictions within the concept of the ego, such as the conflict between reality testing and defense mechanisms. Ego is often misunderstood and misused in popular culture, with many mistakenly associating it with narcissism. In reality, a healthy ego is the opposite of narcissism, as it is grounded in reality and not grandiosity.
We Have No Idea What Is Narcissism
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the historical evolution of the concept of narcissism, including the views of Freud, Jung, Kohut, Heinz Franz Cote, and Karen Horney. Narcissism is constructed around a schizoid core, which pushes the narcissist to introvert. Traumas in early childhood can have long-term effects, and the child’s perception of the trauma is different from that of adults. Narcissism can develop as a coping strategy for children who have experienced trauma, and the development of self-esteem is derived from early daily experience with attachment figures.
YOU in Narcissist’s Harem of Internal Objects
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the narcissist’s convoluted relationships with internal objects. He explains the distinction between external and internal objects and delves into the narcissist’s interactions with internal objects. Vaknin explores the stages of separation-individuation and the impact of disrupted ego formation on object relations. He also examines the narcissist’s idealization, devaluation, shared fantasy, and approach-avoidance dynamics with internal objects. Additionally, he discusses the narcissist’s need to convert external objects into bad internal objects and the impact of the empty core on the schizoid patient’s strategies for dealing with it.