Art and Narcissism: Communicating Souls and Audience
Sam Vaknin discusses the soul, the mind, and the role of artists in bridging between minds. He explores the connection between narcissism and art, and the challenges of communication and judgment in the artistic process. He also delves into the relationship between creativity, mental illness, and the human experience.
Webinar: Have Hope and Resilience in times of COVID-19
The transcript is a record of a webinar on mental health and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, featuring presentations and discussions by various experts in the field of psychology and mental health. The speakers shared their insights, personal experiences, and professional expertise on topics such as acceptance and commitment therapy, the impact of the pandemic on mental health, the importance of resilience and empowerment, and the need for a paradigm shift in the approach to therapy and societal organization. The webinar also included a panel discussion where the speakers engaged in a dialogue about the challenges and opportunities presented by the pandemic for mental health practitioners and society at large.
Face to Face with Buried Traumas: Personality Disorders as Survival Adaptations
The ego is essential for integrating the inner and outer world, regulating drives, and providing a sense of continuity and personal identity. In narcissists, the ego is non-existent, and a false self takes over, draining their energy and creating a distorted perception of reality. This false self is rigid and unable to adapt to life’s challenges, making narcissists fragile and defensive. The true self becomes isolated and atrophied, leaving the narcissist at the mercy of their false self.
Gurus, Geniuses, Mystics: Madmen and Con-artists
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the rise of narcissism and grandiosity in society, fueled by self-proclaimed gurus, life coaches, and mystics who prey on people’s insecurities and desires for success. He argues that the education system and social media have contributed to the belief that everyone is special and unique, leading to a generation of underachievers with unrealistic expectations. Vaknin also touches on the challenges faced by child prodigies as they grow up, often becoming narcissistic and struggling to maintain their achievements. In summary, Vaknin believes that society is heading towards a narcissistic and psychopathic civilization where appearance and self-promotion matter more than knowledge and genuine accomplishment.
Sadist: The Pleasure of Your Pain, the Anguish of Your Pleasure (and Narcissist)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses sadistic personality disorder and its manifestations in individuals. He delves into the removal of sadistic personality disorder from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual and the motivations behind sadistic behavior in narcissists. He also provides insights into the intersection of sadism and narcissism, as well as the impact of sadistic behavior on victims.
Four Pillars of Self-love
Self-love is about having a realistic view of oneself and pursuing happiness and favorable outcomes. It is essential for living a proper life and being capable of loving and being loved. The four conditions for healthy self-love are self-awareness, self-acceptance, self-trust, and self-efficacy. These conditions are necessary for survival and guide individuals to make rational, realistic, and beneficial decisions. Experience alone is not enough without self-love, as self-love serves as a reliable compass in life.
Why Narcissists Love Borderline Women and Why They Hate Them Back
Narcissistic mortification is a challenge to the false self, which crumbles and is unable to maintain defenses and pretensions. Narcissists use two strategies to restore some cohesiveness to the self: deflated and inflated narcissist. Narcissists engage in mortification, a form of self-mutilation, to feel alive and free from commitment to their false self. Narcissists seek out borderline women to mortify them and experience the unresolved primary conflict with their mother.
Disease and Illness as Narcissistic Dynamics
In this video, Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the relationship between disease, illness, and narcissism. He explores the subjective experience of disease, the impact on the patient’s sense of self, and the challenges of communicating the experience of illness to others. He also delves into the psychological effects of chronic illness and the ways in which patients may internalize their suffering. Throughout the discussion, he emphasizes the complex and deeply personal nature of pain and illness.
Mortification in Borderline Women, Narcissistic Men: Let Me Go, Give Me Life
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses mortification in borderline women and how it differs from mortification in narcissistic men. Both narcissists and borderlines have a false self, but the functions of the false self differ between the two. In narcissists, the false self serves as a decoy and a manipulative tool, while in borderlines, the false self functions as a host personality, moderating and switching between self-states. Mortification in borderlines is self-inflicted and serves as a way to feel alive, create drama, and experience transformation. When mortified, borderlines either disappear through dissociation or make others disappear through psychopathic behavior. In contrast, narcissists seek mortification to temporarily get rid of their false self and feel liberated.
Narcissistic Mortification: From Shame to Healing via Trauma, Fear, and Guilt
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the concept of narcissistic mortification, which is the fear and shame experienced by narcissists when confronted with their true selves. He explains how narcissists are victims of narcissistic abuse and how they perpetuate this abuse onto others. He delves into the psychological mechanisms and defense strategies used by narcissists to cope with mortification, and the role of shame and guilt in their behavior. Vaknin also explores the impact of mortification on relationships and the potential for healing through therapy. He emphasizes the importance of re-traumatization and experiencing agony as a key to healing narcissism.