Normal? Mentally Ill? Not in My Culture!
Mental health diagnoses and treatments are influenced by culture and societal norms, which change over time. Examples include the zar, a culture-bound syndrome in Africa, where people believe they are possessed by demons, and homosexuality, which was considered a mental illness in the West until 1980. The concept of mental health is evolving as society becomes more accepting of diverse behaviors and orientations. This raises questions about the validity of certain mental health diagnoses and whether they are truly illnesses or simply society’s judgment of certain people.
Narcissist’s Psychosexuality: Deviant Pervert or Just Kinky Fun?
Narcissists are auto-erotic and focused on themselves as the source of pleasure. Their sexuality is often stunted and thwarted, with somatic narcissists flaunting their conquests and cerebral narcissists often being celibate. Narcissists have highly specific fetishes and are very particular about their preferences. The risk of incest and active pedophilia is higher with narcissists and psychopaths due to their lack of impulse control, boundaries, and obedience to rules.
Narcissist: Private God, Missionary Religion, Global Faith
Professor Sam Vaknin argues that narcissism is a new religion that will overtake traditional religions in the future. He believes that narcissism is a spectrum, with healthy narcissism being necessary for personal growth and development. However, when narcissism remains infantile and does not mature, it becomes pathological. Vaknin also claims that the rise of social media and the internet has created a networked, post-modern religion of narcissism, where individuals create their own gods and worship themselves.
Narcissistic Buffet Answering Your Questions ( Well, Sort Of)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses various topics in this section, including his message of “nothingness,” the fear of success, shadow banning, the Hallow Effect, and the controversy surrounding IQ tests. He also talks about the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, which revealed that traumatic life experiences during childhood and adolescence are much more common than previously thought and linked childhood trauma with health and social problems in adulthood. The study also found that addiction and obesity are solutions, not problems, and that child abuse is the greatest medical issue in the world. The professor emphasizes the importance of protecting children from adverse influences and the critical role of mothers in personal development and growth in the first two years of life.
8 Ways to Survive the Narcissist (ENGLISH Excerpts)
The lecture is divided into two parts, with the first 15 minutes outlining the eight proven ways to manipulate a narcissist, with the most effective being no contact. The other seven techniques include gray rock, deflection, mirroring, shared psychosis, high-grade narcissistic supply, withholding, and intermittent reinforcement. However, the speaker warns that these techniques can lead to the development of narcissistic and psychopathic behaviors in the victim. The lecture concludes with an invitation to explore the narcissist’s mind.
Abuse Victims, Beware Common Sense Is Harmful Nonsense ( 12 Myths Debunked)
Professor Sam Vaknin debunks several myths in this transcript, including the idea that venting is good for you, empathic people read others well, and positive psychology works. He also discusses the link between gender identity, autism, ADHD, and other mental health disorders. Additionally, he argues that group brainstorming can lead to anchoring, groupthink, and pressure, and that personality and IQ are not stable in adulthood. Finally, he disputes the myth that people use only 10% of their brain capacity.
Communal Narcissist ( Prosocial Giver) Altruistic Pleaser Or Controlling Sadist
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the concept of communal or prosocial narcissists who use giving to enhance their sense of omnipotence and contempt for others. Narcissists give to exert control and maintain dependence in their beneficiaries, and their giving is conditional and comes with strings attached. Narcissists use charm and money to manipulate and control others, often engaging in co-dependency with their victims. All of these coping strategies involve dishonesty, manipulation, fostering dependence, infantilization, and self-sacrifice.
Codependents And Narcissists Wooden Puppets And Cruel Puppetmasters
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the story of Pinocchio as a metaphor for the struggles of abused children. He explains that Pinocchio’s desire to become human and escape his puppet existence represents a death wish, as abused children often feel they don’t exist or are unsure of their own essence. To cope with their abusive environment, these children may become narcissistic, borderline, or codependent, either emulating or merging with their abusive parent. This leads to a life of conflict, power play, and fantasy, as they constantly seek to escape their puppet-like existence.
Satisficing Narcissists, Borderlines, And Psychopaths Reject Life
Satisficing is a concept in decision-making theory where one prefers the minimally satisfactory or barely acceptable option. It is linked to narcissistic and psychopathic behavior and was discovered by Nobel Prize-winning economist Herbert K. Simon. Satisficers have low self-esteem, external locus of control, and lack commitment, often leading to mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and personality disorders. They also engage in magical thinking and magical immunity, believing their actions or inactions have no real-life consequences for themselves or others.
COVID-19: 1st Narcissistic Pandemic (Webinar on Psychiatry, Psychology, & Public Health, Aug 2020)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including signs of mass psychosis and hysteria. He highlights the cultural aspects of how different societies view the body and how this affects their reactions to the pandemic. Vaknin also discusses the negative impact of social media on mental health, suggesting limiting usage to encourage more meaningful interactions and reduce negative emotions. He expresses concern about the trend towards atomization and the over-reliance on technology, and suggests changing the parameters of social media usage to encourage more interpersonal interactions.