Destroy the Narcissist in Court: Divorce, Custody, and Aftermath
In summary, to effectively handle a narcissist in court during divorce and custody proceedings, it is crucial to remain calm, composed, and fact-based. Focus on exposing the narcissist’s grandiosity and vulnerabilities by challenging their self-perception and accomplishments, while avoiding appearing vengeful or malicious. Provoke the narcissist indirectly by hinting at their shortcomings and mediocrity, ultimately leading them to lose control and expose their true nature. Maintain a holistic strategy that takes into account both the legal aspects and the narcissist’s off-court life.
How You Recall Trauma (University Lecture)
Professor Sam Vaknin’s lecture discusses the controversy surrounding false memories, particularly those related to abuse. He explores the debate over the accuracy of memories of trauma and the distinction between core memories and peripheral memories. He also delves into the concept of mentalism and mentalization, as well as the impact of therapy on memory recall. The lecture emphasizes the complexity and malleability of memory, and the potential for false memories to be implanted or constructed.
False “Recovered” Memories or Real Abuse? (University Lecture)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the formation of false memories, particularly in the context of trauma and therapy. He emphasizes the potential for therapists to inadvertently influence the creation of false memories in their patients, and warns against the dangers of perpetuating victimhood for financial gain. He also delves into the psychological and neurological processes involved in memory formation and retrieval, as well as the impact of suggestibility, attachment styles, and mood on the creation of false memories.
Scoop on Narcissism and Abuse (with Shayel Naava)
Sam Vaknin discusses the development of narcissism, its impact on relationships, and the challenges of treating it. He emphasizes the difficulty of intervening in early childhood and the ineffectiveness of traditional therapies. Vaknin also warns of the pervasive influence of narcissism in society and its potential for self-destruction.
Trusting After Narcissistic Abuse, Narcissism Reconceived, Treated: Cold Therapy (with Pi Winslow)
In this interview, Professor Sam Vaknin discusses narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) and its treatment. NPD is a result of trauma and abuse in early childhood, and narcissists create a false self as a defense mechanism. Treatment for NPD is difficult, as narcissists often do not see their disorder as a problem. Cold therapy, a treatment modality developed by Vaknin, involves re-traumatizing the narcissist to weaken the false self. However, even with treatment, some narcissistic traits will remain. Vaknin advises those living with a narcissist to avoid labeling them as such and to leave abusive relationships.
Internet: Heavenly Narcissism Factory (Convo with Guy Sengstock)
Sam Vaknin discusses the profound impact of society and technology on the individual, suggesting that the internet and social media have led to a societal shift where people have chosen the world over the self, resulting in a form of collective narcissism. He argues that technology has become a substitute for essence, and that cyberspace is akin to a digital Platonic cave. Vaknin also touches on the idea that humans and computers are both universal machines, capable of unfurling numerous future potentialities. He suggests that the internet has become a realm where people defend their essence rather than just appearances, and that this has led to a loss of individuality and an increase in narcissistic behavior. Vaknin also discusses the concept of malignant egalitarianism, where technology and democracy have been co-opted by the masses as tools of empowerment and rebellion against the elites who created them. He concludes that in a civilization that celebrates the inanimate over the animate, one must become “dead” inside to succeed, and that this has led to a loss of hope and the ability to become, as all life and functionality are outsourced to others.
Narcissist-Borderline: Take My Shadow, Give Me Love
Professor Sam Vaknin reads and reacts to comments on his YouTube channel, discussing the experiences of individuals in relationships with narcissists. He delves into the psychosexual behaviors of narcissists, their resistance to change, and their inability to maintain long-term relationships. He also explores the concepts of object constancy, ego incongruency, and the dynamics of borderline and narcissistic relationships.
No Narcissist Without YOU as Ego and Self
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the role of internal objects in the narcissist’s fantasy life, the connection between the narcissist’s latent homosexuality and autoeroticism, and the significance of imagination and creativity in the narcissistic experience. He delves into the psychological aspects of fantasy, its impact on personal development, and its connection to sexuality and frustration.
Codependent-Narcissist Co-idealization Dance, Borderlines too! (Convo with Daria Żukowska)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses various aspects of narcissistic personality disorder, including its connection to dependent personality disorder, the mechanism of trauma bonding, and the self-awareness of narcissists. He explains that both disorders are solutions that a child chooses when confronted with a dysfunctional family, abuse, and trauma. Narcissists are indiscriminate and promiscuous in their pursuit of narcissistic supply, and they do not care about the identity, traits, or qualities of their supply source. The strongest love and intimacy come after a period of no love or intimacy. Therapy can modify some antisocial and abrasive behaviors of narcissists, but it is impossible to touch the core of narcissism.
Self Gaslighting Into Shared Fantasy
In this video, Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the concept of shared fantasy and self-gaslighting in the context of narcissistic behavior. He also delves into the dynamics of relationships with narcissists and the impact of their behavior on their intimate partners. Vaknin emphasizes the dissociative nature of narcissists and the challenges in capturing their essence. He also explores the psychological processes that lead to self-gaslighting and the complex dynamics of living with a narcissist.