Hallucinatory Payback for Narcissist’s Real Mother (with psychotherapist and author Kathleen Saxton)
Professor Vaknin discussed the rise in narcissism and comorbidity with other mental health issues. He explained that narcissism is a personality disorder with various manifestations and that there is a new approach to understanding personality disorders. He also addressed the correlation between covert narcissism and avoidant personality type, the impact of trauma bonding, and the characteristics of individuals attracted to narcissists. Additionally, he emphasized the need to understand covert states in various personality disorders and the importance of checking credentials in the field of psychology.
Don’t Waste Your Love on the Narcissist (Conference Presentation)
The narcissist is incapable of both loving and being loved due to the presence of a bad object at their core. Love triggers feelings of vulnerability and inadequacy in the narcissist, leading them to reject and push away any attempts at love. They view love as a threat and seek to control and manipulate their partners to avoid feelings of weakness and potential abandonment. The narcissist’s inability to separate others from themselves and their deep-seated trauma from childhood further complicates their ability to engage in healthy, loving relationships.
Narcissistic Supply – How Does It FEEL?
Narcissistic supply is essential for the narcissist’s self-regulation and maintaining a sense of grandiosity and perfection. It is a form of external regulation that stabilizes the narcissist’s self-worth, moods, and emotions. The narcissist’s dependence on narcissistic supply is akin to an addiction, providing a rush and sense of omnipotence. The pursuit of narcissistic supply involves idealizing sources of supply and is a crucial element in the narcissistic pathology.
How Narcissist Mortifies Himself/Herself
Narcissists in the schizoid phase self-supply by interacting with internal objects in their mind, becoming solipsistic and psychotic. They may experience self-motification, shaming and humiliating themselves in front of their internal objects. To maintain constancy and quality of their internal objects, narcissists self-stalk them. This self-cycle involves idealization, devaluation, discard, and potential modification, without having a self at all.
Overprotective Parents And Manipulative Helplessness
The text discusses the negative impact of overprotective parents on their children. It explains how overprotective parents prevent their children from experiencing reality, growth, and separation, leading to lifelong consequences. The text also delves into the behavior of narcissists and the dynamics of relationships between overprotective parents and their children as well as between dependent partners and primary partners. It highlights the detrimental effects of overprotection on the child’s development and the perpetuation of dysfunctional behaviors in adulthood.
Narcissism: A Talk Across the Generations (with Nicolas Martin)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses his expertise in narcissistic personality disorder, the interconnectedness of personality disorders, the impact of trauma on personality development, the influence of philosophers and psychologists on his thinking, the rise of narcissistic tendencies in modern society, the impact of digitalization on mental health, the relationship between psychology and politics, the future of psychology, and advice for young psychologists. He also shares his views on the possibility of a third world war and the direction of the field of psychology.
How Trauma Destroys Your Sense of Self (PTSD Literature Review)
Neuroscience studies support the idea that narcissistic and borderline personality disorders are post-traumatic conditions due to disruptions in the formation of the self. Trauma, especially in early childhood, leads to dissociation, depersonalization, and derealization, affecting the sense of self. The default mode network in the brain is implicated in these disruptions. PTSD and CPTSD are reactions to single or repeated traumatic events, with EMDR and cognitive behavior therapy as recommended treatments. Medication options for PTSD include paroxetine, sertraline, and alpha 2 receptor antagonists, while benzodiazepines and certain other drugs are not recommended.
Miracles: Real – or Delusional Disorder?
The text discusses the philosophical and historical context of miracles and wonders, exploring the possibility of supernatural phenomena and their relation to mental illness. It delves into various perspectives, including those of Jewish Rabbi Nachmanides, philosopher Baruch Spinoza, and Immanuel Kant, as well as the views of the author, Sam Vaknin. The discussion covers the nature of miracles, divine intervention, and the compatibility of miracles with natural laws, ultimately highlighting the complexity and mystery surrounding these phenomena.
Homosexuality As Othering Failure
The text discusses the terminology of sex and gender, debunks myths about homosexuality, and explores the psychological aspects of homosexuality, including its relation to othering and the formation of sexual identity. It also delves into the differences between homosexuality and other psychological conditions such as narcissism and autoerotism. The text emphasizes the role of fantasy and the need for external regulation in the context of homosexuality.
Narcissism, Abuse: His POV, Her POV (Compilation)
The transcript is a conversation between an interviewer and Professor Sam Vaknin, an expert on narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). Vaknin discusses various aspects of narcissism, including the differences between narcissistic traits and narcissistic disorder, the prevalence of NPD among men and women, and the dynamics of relationships with narcissists. He explains that narcissism is a complex condition involving a lack of empathy, a sense of grandiosity, and a reliance on others for self-regulation. Vaknin also touches on his personal experience with NPD and the misconceptions surrounding the disorder. He emphasizes that narcissists are not capable of genuine relationships and that their interactions are transactional and based on maintaining a fantasy. He advises victims of narcissistic abuse to recognize that they are not at fault, that the relationship was never real, and to focus on their own healing and self-understanding.