How Trauma Breaks You Apart (Structural Dissociation in Cold Therapy)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the opening of a new YouTube channel and responds to a comment about a theory in psychology. He delves into the theory of structural dissociation and its application to trauma and personality disorders. He also discusses the interaction between the apparently normal part and the emotional part in the context of trauma and dissociation. He suggests that all personality disorders should be reconceived as post-traumatic conditions.
37th International Conference on Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine
The webinar on psychosomatic medicine 2020 covered various topics related to mental health, with a focus on the life experiences of teenage mothers, the impact of disabilities on parents, strategies for brain tumor surgery, and the relationship between assertiveness skills and depression among nursing students. Keynote speakers and guest speakers from different countries presented their research and findings, and the event concluded with certificates and proceedings to be sent to participants.
Jung against Freud: Narcissism is Healthy
Sam Vaknin discusses the differences between Freud and Jung’s views on narcissism. He presents Jung’s concept of the self as distinct from the ego and delves into the development of narcissism in early childhood. Vaknin also explores the impact of maternal behavior on the child’s psyche and the formation of personality disorders.
Narcissist’s Sexual Identities (ENGLISH responses)
Narcissists lack an ego and have no reality test, so they rely on other people to provide them with narcissistic supply. The cerebral narcissist uses their intellect to obtain supply, while the somatic narcissist uses their body and sex. However, all narcissists are both cerebral and somatic, with a dominant and recessive side. The dominant side is usually 70-80% of their life, but there is fluctuation between the two types. Narcissists are frozen at a young age and have no sexual or gender identity, leading to infantilization and reaction formation to their own sexuality.
Manipulate the Narcissist and Live to Tell About It? (Lecture in Budapest)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the manipulation of narcissists, the prevalence of narcissistic traits in society, and the impact of aggression on children. He emphasizes that the only effective way to deal with a narcissist is to go no contact, as staying in contact can lead to adopting narcissistic behaviors oneself. He notes that narcissism is on a spectrum, with healthy narcissism at one end and narcissistic personality disorder at the other. Vaknin also observes that narcissism and psychopathy are becoming more socially accepted and even encouraged in certain contexts. He mentions that narcissists can recognize each other but not psychopaths, and that psychopaths prey on narcissists. Lastly, he discusses the impact of aggression on children, stating that witnessing or experiencing physical or sexual aggression can lead to destructive or self-destructive behavior, while verbal aggression tends to perpetuate verbal abuse within the family structure.
In Defense of Psychoanalysis (Psychiatry Talks, April 2019, San Antonio)
Psychoanalysis, initially developed by Sigmund Freud, has been influential in the field of psychology but is now considered more of a literary exercise than a scientific practice. Critics argue that it lacks empirical support and is ambiguous in its explanations of human behavior. However, psychoanalysis can be seen as a valuable organizing principle and narrative for understanding human psychological development, even if it doesn’t meet the strict criteria of a scientific theory. Ultimately, whether psychoanalysis should be treated as a science or an art form depends on one’s perspective and expectations.
Are Narcissists Psychotic? (4th World Congress on Neuropsychiatry, Sleep Disorders and Medicine)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the concept of psychosis and its relation to personality disorders, particularly narcissism. He explains that psychosis is a chaotic form of thinking resulting from a severely impaired reality test, where the patient cannot distinguish between inner fantasy and external reality. Narcissists may experience psychotic micro-episodes, but Vaknin argues that narcissism is not psychosis, as narcissists are aware of the difference between true and false and are in full control of their faculties and actions. He also explores various solutions narcissists may adopt to cope with their condition, such as delusional narratives, antisocial behavior, paranoid tendencies, and masochistic avoidance.
Freud and Jung on Cold Therapy: Re-integrating the Narcissist’s Self
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the psychodynamic theories of Freud and Jung, focusing on the narcissist’s true self, ego functions, and the development of personality disorders. He delves into the concepts of the ego, the self, and the shadow, and their impact on the individual’s integration and perception of self. Vaknin also explores the role of split off material and its effect on conflict resolution and the treatment of personality disorders.
Narcissist, Psychopath, Misogynist, Racist? Josh Neal Talk to Sam Vaknin
Sam Vaknin is a professor who has developed a new treatment modality called cold therapy for narcissistic personality disorder. He believes that language is an obstruction to understanding the physical nature of reality and that narcissism is a post-traumatic condition caused by abuse during the child’s formative years. Vaknin discusses the decline of power structures in North America and Europe and diagnoses the narcissism of American presidents, including Barack Obama and Donald Trump, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
No Identity Without Memory (Lecture for Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the complexities of modern psychology, particularly the challenges in defining concepts such as personality and memory. He explores the cultural and perceptual influences on psychological constructs, the dichotomy between observer and observed reality, and the limitations of accessing and defining memory. Vaknin also delves into the fluid nature of memory and its impact on personal identity, challenging traditional views and proposing a new understanding of identity as a flexible algorithm that processes and adapts to changing memories. He emphasizes the evolutionary advantage of human adaptability and the role of storytelling in shaping identity.