Cold Therapy and Grandiosity of Psychology (ENGLISH responses, with Nárcisz Coach)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the prevalence of disrupted or atypical sexuality in narcissists and explains why traditional therapies are ineffective in treating narcissism. He emphasizes that narcissism should be treated as a post-traumatic condition using trauma-focused techniques and child psychology methods. He criticizes the resistance of the therapy community to adopt new knowledge and suggests that there is an overrepresentation of narcissists in the field.
Collapsed Narcissist in Therapy (ENGLISH responses, with Nárcisz Coach)
In an interview, Sam Vaknin explains that a narcissist would never attend therapy unless they hit rock bottom and lose everything. Even then, they attend therapy not because they want to heal, but because they want to be fixed so they can continue to be the same. Vaknin describes his therapy as hostile and aimed at destroying the narcissist, with the aim of reconstructing them in a way that makes their life more functional and happy. He acknowledges that cold therapy is dangerous for a narcissist, but it is the only hope for them to be reborn.
Narcissism and the Meaningless Life (ENGLISH responses, with Nárcisz Coach)
The guest thanks Sam Vaknin for his work in identifying and naming psychological disorders. They discuss Hungary and the Hungarian people, who have a tendency to suffer and are highly ranked in suicidal accidents, divorce, and alcohol consumption. Sam Vaknin explains that this is not unique to Hungary, but rather a modern existential crisis caused by a loss of meaning in life. He discusses the problems of atomization and the need to be seen, as well as the shift from libidinal societies to fanatic societies, where pain has become the currency and language.
Budapest Seminar: Cold Therapy (ENGLISH responses, with Nárcisz Coach)
Sam Vaknin discusses his Cold Therapy seminar, which teaches unique techniques and philosophy for treating narcissism and other mental health disorders. The seminar is open to anyone, but certification is reserved for professionals or those with practice. Cold Therapy breaks the narcissist down and rebuilds them, which can be a painful process, but it provides hope for previously intractable problems. While a narcissist would not attend the seminar, anyone with an interest in psychology could benefit from the cutting-edge techniques and philosophy taught.
Narcissism: A Spiritual Cancer (ENGLISH responses, with Nárcisz Coach)
Narcissism is a hyper, super, post-modern religion that is spreading like a cancer, or metastasizing, according to Professor Sam Vaknin. It is a spiritual cancer that is prevalent worldwide, and it involves a relationship between the false self and the worshipper. Narcissism is not good, and in the Middle Ages, it would have been considered a demonic or satanic religion.
Through Narcland and Beyond (ENGLISH responses, with Nárcisz Coach)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses his work in creating a language to describe narcissism and narcissistic abuse, which was previously neglected in the field of psychology. He explains that narcissistic abuse is different from other types of abuse as it is total and existential, and that victims were previously unable to describe their experiences. Vaknin believes that his biggest contribution to the field was giving a voice to victims of narcissism, but notes that there is still a lack of knowledge about narcissism among mental health professionals and in universities. He warns that without institutional knowledge of narcissism, narcissists will continue to leverage institutional power to promote themselves and prey on others.
Empath and Gaslighting: Setting the Record Straight
Self-proclaimed empaths are actually narcissistic individuals seeking attention and victimhood. Highly sensitive persons (HSPs) are extremely few and far between and are unlikely to expose themselves in cyberspace. Gaslighting is often confused and conflated with dissociation, confabulation, and dissonances. Narcissists rarely engage in gaslighting, which is a psychopathic tactic. Narcissists’ desperate attempt to restore continuity, introduce some glue into the disjointed parts of their personality, and dissonances are very common but have nothing to do with gaslighting.
LECTURE Narcissist: There Is Nobody Home (English and Hungarian)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the development of narcissism in children due to trauma and dysfunctional parenting. He also touches on the challenges of treating narcissism and the impact of narcissistic abuse on victims. He emphasizes the need for addressing underlying psychological issues and the difficulty in preventing children from developing narcissistic traits in certain environments.
Social Media, ISIS, and Narcissism as Death Cults
In this transcript, Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the rise of narcissism in society and its connection to social media. He suggests that social media has become a potent drug that fosters addiction, depression, and anxiety, especially among vulnerable age groups. Vaknin also argues that the decline of traditional institutions and the rise of a death-centered culture have led to a society that values objects and appearances over human relationships and life itself. This has resulted in a growing preoccupation with issues of life and death, such as abortion and euthanasia.
Triggering Cascade, Trauma Imprinting, and Total Reactance
Trauma can lead to a triggering cascade, where a seemingly minor trigger results in vastly disproportionate trauma. Narcissists and psychopaths are adept at provoking triggering cascades by frustrating individual and social expectations. Trauma imprinting is at the core of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD, and it is what underlies triggering. Trauma can lead to either regression into infantile behaviors and defenses or a spurt of personal growth and maturation, depending on how it is processed. Trauma is not an objective clinical entity, but a form of reactance, and there are as many types of traumas as there are trauma victims.