Do WE Have Inner World? Are WE Mere Machines? (Behaviorism)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the debate in psychology about whether humans can be reduced to their physical and biochemical components. He argues that human essence cannot be captured by specifying anatomy and physiology alone. He reviews the Chicago School of psychology, behaviorism, and its various schools, and emphasizes the limitations of studying human behavior and consciousness. He concludes that while humans are machines, their self-reporting makes them unique, but also unreliable. He asserts that psychology can never be a science.
Mirrored Narcissist Gazes At YOU How Do Other People Exist
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the impact of a mother’s gaze on a child’s development, emphasizing its role in creating the child’s unconscious and shaping their self. He also addresses the connection between maternal gaze and narcissism, as well as the implications for relationships. Additionally, he corrects a previous claim about psychopaths and lie detector tests and discusses the concept of empathy and its link to mirror gazing. He also plans to delve deeper into the topic of behaviorism and its connection to mentalizing in his future work.
Narcissism= Toxic Masculinity, Capitalism?
Sam Vaknin discusses the collapse of traditional gender roles and the rise of toxic masculinity, which is now prevalent in both men and women. He connects toxic masculinity to Darwinian jungle capitalism, urbanization, consumerism, and spectacle, all of which emphasize escapism and the denial of reality. Vaknin argues that capitalism has transitioned from manufacturing and consumption to spectacle and addiction, making it a form of narcissism. He concludes that narcissism is the organizing principle of the modern world, extending to gender relations, capitalism, and the attention economy.
Repentant Narcissist, Therapist Must Accept Diagnosis ( 12 Steps Of Narcissists Anonymous)
Therapists are hesitant to label and stigmatize their patients, but the narcissist must accept their diagnosis for any chance of growth and healing. The 12 steps of Narcissist Anonymous are outlined as a way for narcissists to come to terms with their condition and limit the damage they cause to themselves and others. The steps involve admitting powerlessness over narcissism, making amends, and seeking to improve conscious contact with the false self. While narcissism cannot be cured, these steps offer a way to contain its effects.
Narcissist’s False Self HATES, FEARS Your Intimacy!
The narcissist has a false self that competes with and obviates others. Both narcissists and borderlines have a false self, but the conception of narcissistic personality disorder and borderline personality disorder is changing. The false self compensates for inadequacy and protects the true self, preventing regression into borderline emotional dysregulation. It resists intimacy and healthy alternatives, and fights back against therapy and personal growth. The false self is a solipsistic construct that prevents the narcissist from interacting meaningfully with others and drives the narcissist to the verge of psychosis.
Never Forgive Infidelity, Cheating!
Public intellectuals and coaches who validate ignorance and biases for profit are criticized. The speaker argues that cheating in relationships is never therapeutic and reflects underlying psychological issues. They distinguish consensual non-monogamous arrangements from deceptive affairs, asserting that forgiving such betrayal indicates mental illness. Mentally healthy individuals are advised to end relationships after infidelity, and those who don’t are deemed mentally impaired. The speaker dismisses justifications for cheating and urges seeking therapy for considering staying in a deceptive relationship.
From Insight to Self-love, Self-care: 4 Conditions, 4 Steps
Personal change requires self-awareness, empathy, motivation, and emotions. Self-awareness involves understanding oneself without pretension. Empathy is crucial for fitting into society and motivating change. Motivation to change is influenced by interactions with others and the environment. Emotions, including love and negative feelings, drive personal growth. Self-love is based on self-awareness, self-acceptance, self-trust, and self-efficacy, and serves as a reliable compass in life.
Narcissist’s Manipulative Weapon: Projective Identification
Narcissists and psychopaths use mind control techniques, such as entraining and projective identification. Entraining involves synchronizing the victim’s brainwaves with the abuser’s through repetition of phrases and criticisms. Projective identification involves the narcissist projecting rejected traits onto the victim, who then identifies with and adopts these traits. In a world of conflict and uncertainty, it is important to prioritize self-awareness, authenticity, and self-sufficiency, and carefully consider the risks of engaging with others.
Narcissist and Victim: Daddy or Mommy Issues? (See link in description)
The text discusses the concept of the dual mothership in the Narcissist shared fantasy, where the narcissist and their partner seek maternal figures for unconditional love and acceptance. It explains the roles of mothers and fathers in personal development and the impact of unresolved conflicts with them. It also delves into the concept of “daddy issues” and how they manifest in seeking care, protection, and validation from older figures. The text emphasizes the distinction between issues related to the mother and the father, and how they can affect relationships and behavior.
How Narcissist Disables Your Alarm System ( Zombies, Zimbos, Contagion)
Victims of narcissistic abuse experience complex trauma, CPTSD, complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Narcissistic contagion leads to victims developing narcissistic traits and behaviors. The concept of “Zimbos” is introduced, referring to individuals who are behaviorally indistinguishable from humans but lack an inner experience. The lecture delves into philosophy of mind, discussing zombies, qualia, and the uncanny valley, and explores the impaired affect, cognition, and conation in narcissists. The tripartite model of attitudes is used to explain how narcissists are unable to develop appropriate attitudes towards attitude objects. The lecture concludes by warning about the contagious nature of narcissistic abuse and its long-term effects on victims.