How Narcissist, Borderline Overperceives YOU (and Reality)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the concept of overperception, a cognitive bias where individuals exaggerate or misperceive the intentions, emotions, and behaviors of others. He provides examples of overperception in various mental illnesses, such as narcissism, borderline personality disorder, and paranoia. Vaknin also explores the evolutionary basis and adaptive value of cognitive biases, as well as their impact on decision-making and emotional regulation. He emphasizes the role of cognitive distortions in shaping individuals’ perceptions and internal states, and discusses the implications for therapeutic interventions.
How We Read Other People’s Minds
Sam Vaknin discusses the pandemic of loneliness and anxiety on RTL television. He delves into the topic of how people read other people’s minds, touching on body language cues, empathy, and the unconscious. He explores concepts such as intersubjectivity, mentalization, and internalization, and their impact on mental health and relationships. Vaknin also connects these processes to attachment theory and psychoanalytic concepts like introjection and identification.
How One Becomes a Psychopath: Antisocial Personality Disorder Revisited
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the diagnosis of Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) and its relationship to psychopathy, noting that it is difficult to treat as it is a childhood disorder that starts around ages six to eight and is associated with other comorbidities. He suggests that ASPD, along with borderline personality disorder and narcissism, are childhood disorders that should be treated with child psychology. Vaknin also discusses the history of the diagnosis of ASPD, noting that childhood behavior problems are the best predictors of adult antisocial behavior. He suggests that ASPD is a societal disorder and that we need to focus on troubled children who are at the greatest risk of developing ASPD.
Nature vs. Nurture? BOTH
The distinction between nature and nurture is a false dichotomy, as genes are natural but constitute an internal environment that is reactive to the external environment. The activation of certain genes is passed on through generations, and the internal environment operates on aspects of the external environment, affecting it. The concept of nature is a romantic invention, and the dualism of man versus nature is universally acknowledged but false. Man is part of nature, and all species modify their environment and ecosystems. The false dichotomy reduces our ability to understand the interlocking mechanisms that shape us.
Goals of Narcissists, Borderlines, Psychopaths
In this video, Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the differences in goal orientation between cluster B personality disorders, including narcissists, psychopaths, and borderlines. Narcissists are not interested in anything except for obtaining narcissistic supply, while psychopaths are goal-oriented and pursue their goals with conviction and investment. Borderlines are also goal-oriented, but they mislabel their goals as emotional states and construct a fantastic narrative to explain their behavior. It is important to differentiate between these disorders to avoid confusion and mislabeling.
Are You Sure You Are Human?
The lecture explores the question of what it means to be human and how it is becoming increasingly difficult to define. The traditional definition of being human as being distinct from animals and machines is no longer tenable due to evolutionary and technological advancements. The uniqueness of humans may lie in their behavioral unpredictability and awareness of mortality. The lecture also discusses the dethroning of humans in the Western worldview and the recent resurgence of individualism in various fields. The internet is seen as a manifestation of this resurgence, but social media and the attention economy may reverse this trend.
Why You Can’t Stop Thinking: Obsessional Neurosis
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses obsessional neurosis and its connection to dissociation and self-destructiveness. Obsessions and compulsions are linked to traumatic events, and the mind develops a defense against the trauma, which gives rise to the obsession. Obsession and compulsion are a form of displacement, and they are perceived as beneficial because they restore the sense of control and create a fixed, dependable, reliable point in the obsessed person’s life. The opposite of addiction and obsession is connection to oneself and others.
Identify LIARS, LIES in Your Life
There are 11 types of lies, including utilitarian lies, smokescreen lies, compassionate lies, ceremonial lies, compensatory lies, confabulatory lies, inferential lies, hybrid lies, and artistic lies. Gaslighting is a strategy used by psychopaths to make people doubt their own perception of reality, while confabulation is a desperate attempt to breach memory gaps and lapses. Narcissists rarely lie, but instead create a fantasy in which they are emotionally invested and which they fully believe. With the emergence of mass media and social media, lying has been legitimized as a form of art, leading to the rise of artistic lies.
Some Giving is Wrong
Giving does not necessarily make people happy, as the style of giving is important. Ostentatious and transactional giving can create resentment in beneficiaries. True giving is hidden, unconditional, and comes from the heart, not the wallet. It is about helping others and is altruistic and empathic. All other forms of giving are manipulative and wrong and can result in adverse outcomes for the giver.
17 Ways to “Cure” Narcissism (Compilation)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses various therapies used to treat personality disorders, including behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, and cognitive behavior therapy. He also describes dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which emphasizes emotional and affect regulation, and other therapies such as cognitive behavioral analysis system of psychotherapy (CBASP), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), pattern-focused psychotherapy, and schema therapy. Vaknin also discusses dynamic psychotherapy, psychodynamic therapy, and psychoanalytic psychotherapy, which are all forms of intensive psychotherapy based on psychoanalytic theory without the element of free association. Finally, he discusses the role of meaning in therapy and introduces three treatment modalities that leverage meaning as a healing tool: the Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT-BPD