Brain Neuroplasticity: Neuroscience Of Self States
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses neuroplasticity and its implications for the concept of a unitary self. He also touches on the four S’s of a narcissist’s intimate partner and delves into various psychological phenomena such as ambivalence, cognitive dissonance, and compartmentalization. Vaknin provides a detailed breakdown of different types of neuroplasticity and their impact on the brain’s ability to change and adapt. He also challenges traditional models of psychology and identity, advocating for a self-states model.
Collapse Variants Of Somatic Narcissism, Wounded Borderline Self Trashing
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the mispronunciation of “ketamine” and delves into the topic of narcissism and sexuality. He explains the differences between cerebral and somatic narcissists, and how they transition between these states, often experiencing collapse. Additionally, he explores the behavior of borderline women in response to abandonment, and the connection between collapse and personality disorder transitions.
Psychedelics Hype Or Hope
Professor Sam Vaknin argues that claims about the healing effects of psychedelics on narcissistic personality disorder are exaggerated and misleading. He states that there is not enough scientific evidence to support these claims, as most studies on psychedelics have not been conducted with proper control groups. Vaknin believes that talk therapy is the recommended treatment for pathological narcissism, while antidepressants can be used for comorbid depression and OCD. He advises against self-treatment with psychedelics for psychological disorders, as it may cause more harm than good.
Solitude: Why Are We So Lonely, Alone? (with Benny Hendel)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the increasing trend of people choosing to be alone, with half the adult population in the United States being single or in short-term relationships. He attributes this to factors such as technological self-sufficiency, the hollowing out of family functions, overcrowding, societal collapse, and a preference for being alone when needs are met. Additionally, Vaknin mentions the rise in depression and anxiety rates, which can lead to social isolation. He warns that this trend could lead to social unrest and violence on a global scale.
Autism, Borderline, Narcissism: Some Similarities And Differences
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the polythetic problem in modern diagnostic psychology, where comorbidities, or multiple mental health issues, are diagnosed in the same individual. He explains that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) has not yet recognized that there may be only one personality disorder, which is a form of complex trauma or CPTSD. Vaknin also discusses the similarities and differences between autism, narcissism, and borderline personality disorder, noting that both narcissists and borderlines experience separation insecurity and create shared fantasies with intimate partners. However, borderlines distance themselves due to overwhelming anxiety, while narcissists devalue and discard partners to separate from a maternal figure.
Narcissistic Women vs. Borderline Women vs. Narcissistic Men
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the differences between men and women when it comes to personality disorders. He states that there is little difference between male and female narcissists in terms of their psychodynamics, but their behaviors may differ due to societal and cultural expectations. Within the same diagnosis, the variation between men and women is low, but the variation between diagnoses is much higher. Vaknin also notes that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) is gender-neutral in its language, but some claims within it can be seen as sexist.
Adapting to Dystopian New Normal (Interview with Shot Magazine)
The transcript features a conversation between the interviewer and Professor Sam Vaknin, discussing societal trends, psychology, and the future of human behavior. Vaknin expresses a pessimistic view of current societal trends, suggesting that narcissism and psychopathy are becoming more adaptive traits in modern society. He argues that technology and certain ideologies have led to increased isolation, self-sufficiency, and a decline in empathy and intimacy. Vaknin proposes that limiting harmful ideologies and regulating technology could reverse these trends, but he doubts the political will to make such changes. He also notes that younger generations seem disengaged from life, showing less interest in traditional markers of adulthood. Vaknin believes that while there is potential for societal healing, the current trajectory is concerning, with a shift towards materialism and self-objectification.
20 Steps to Fix This Horrible Mess We Are All In (Shot Magazine)
In the transcript, Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the current state of society and proposes a series of steps to reverse the negative trends. These steps include encouraging a transition from cities back to nature, suppressing certain types of speech and ideologies, regulating technology and social media, reforming education, and promoting mental health and life skills. Vaknin believes that implementing these measures can lead to a better future, but it requires individual and collective will, political will, and social capital.
How Borderline Lures, Captivates You
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the strategies that borderline personality disorder women use to keep their partners hooked. He explains that the borderline woman is multifarious, ephemeral, and shimmering, and that she uses drama, approach avoidance, idealization, triangulation, and other tactics to keep her partner addicted to her. He also notes that the borderline’s neediness and clinging cater to the partner’s grandiosity, and that the borderline’s ability to impair the partner’s reality testing is essentially unlimited. Finally, he warns that relationships with borderlines are exceedingly destructive for both parties.
Shapeshifting Borderline, Morphing Narcissist Identity Disturbance
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the concept of self-states in individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD), noting that BPD individuals switch between different personalities and identities. He explains the three types of identity disturbance, which include cyclical, allotropic, and object-related identity disturbance. Patients with borderline personality disorder have disturbances in the structural level of selfhood, resulting in an incomplete sense of substance, substantiality, embodiment, and a feeling of having divorced their own body. Narcissistic pathology is a more egregious form of the borderline pathology, and both the borderline and their typically narcissistic partner try to appropriate the other person’s identity as a sound and medicine to their own identity disturbance and knowing emptiness.