Narcissism: The New Normal? (Mental Health Speak Show)
Sam Vaknin, a professor of psychology and author of Malignant Self-Love: Narcissism Revisited, discusses the distinction between pathological narcissism and narcissism as a societal, cultural, and historical organizing principle. He believes that narcissism is an all-pervasive phenomenon today and is the organizing principle of our society, civilization, and culture. Vaknin also discusses his own experience with narcissistic personality disorder and how he has developed a treatment modality called Cold Therapy, which has had an impact on him and has been successful in treating others.
Narcissism, the New Faith – Part 1: Distributed God and Human Sacrifice
Narcissism can be described as a form of private religion, where the false self is the divinity and the child who has developed the false self becomes the worshipper. When narcissism becomes a societal phenomenon, it remains the same, but it becomes the first distributed religion in human history. Narcissism is a faith of entitlement, where the narcissist subsumes everything and becomes one with everything because the narcissist is everything and everything is the narcissist. The current new religion that is emerging, the religion of narcissism, is similarly embedded in the computer metaphor or more precisely in the network metaphor.
NEW VIDEO Narcissism, the New Faith – Part 2: Missionary Cult and the End of Society
Narcissism is a new, technologically driven, networked religion, and God in the new faith of narcissism is distributed. Each and every one of the nodes in the network is a God. Narcissism is a concept of God, which renders the narcissist equal to God, identical to God. Narcissism is the first network distributed religion, the first network distributed faith. In 50 to 100 years, the number one religion would be narcissism.
Reimagining Narcissism in a Psychopathic World (Dunc Tank)
Sam Vaknin explains that narcissism is a clinical entity and an organizing principle that can elucidate many processes. Narcissists seek external validation, known as narcissistic supply, to regulate their sense of self-worth. Narcissism and psychopathy are becoming a lifestyle, and as long as they were a pathology, they could have been contained, but the minute they become a fad or a fashion, we are doomed. Vaknin believes that there is no effective therapy for narcissism, and the only advice he has for prospective parents diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder is to not have children.
Lidija and Sam: The Tide of Narcissism (1st in Series “Fly on the Wall”)
Social media blurs the line between virtual and real reality, leading to addiction and confusion. The positive reward system of likes and shares encourages extreme behavior and radicalization. Social media creates a clash between reality and virtual or augmented reality, and the false self is unique on social media, not the real self. Narcissists use social media as an addiction to maintain their grandiosity and avoid disintegration.
Psychopathic Narcissism is Our Destiny and Destination (Obsidian Radio)
Dr. Sam Vaknin, an expert on narcissism, discusses various aspects of narcissistic behavior and its impact on society. He explains that narcissism has both healthy and pathological manifestations, with pathological narcissism being an addiction to attention and validation from others. Vaknin suggests that narcissism may be a post-traumatic condition linked to childhood abuse and trauma. He also discusses the role of narcissism in technology, politics, and relationships, proposing that it is a pervasive force shaping modern life. Additionally, Vaknin touches on the historical and social dynamics of African Americans, victimhood as an industry, and the future of gender roles, predicting an increase in female dominance due to societal and economic changes.
Road to Riches: Behavioral Sales, Irrationality, and Choice
Sam Vaknin discusses the intersection of psychology and economics in sales, marketing, and advertising, emphasizing that human behavior is not always rational and is influenced by various psychological factors. He highlights the importance of understanding behavioral economics to improve sales strategies, mentioning experiments that demonstrate how context, presentation, and emotional responses significantly impact decision-making. Vaknin also touches on gender and age demographics in sales and the cognitive biases that affect how we perceive ourselves versus others.
Consumption as a Narcissistic Religion
Professor Sam Vaknin argues that narcissism is a reaction to an abusive or traumatizing environment, and that consumerism is a form of secular religion that has replaced classic, God-centered religion. He believes that consumerism is addictive and leads to a rat race that is nightmarish and unrealistic, ultimately leading to an overdose. The pursuit of money as the foundation of happiness in consumerism leads to a morally neutral world that prioritizes selfishness and egotism over empathy and altruism.
Love as Addiction (Global Conference on Addiction and Behavioural Health, London)
Love is an addiction that is similar to substance abuse, with changes in behavior that are reminiscent of psychosis. Passionate love closely imitates substance abuse biochemically. The same areas of the brain are active when abusing drugs and when in love. Falling in love is an exercise in proxy incest and a vindication of Freud’s much maligned early puss and electro complexes.
Intimacy and Jealousy Regulate Relationships
In relationships, there are two ways to regulate behavior: intimacy and romantic jealousy. Healthy relationships achieve a balance between the two, but those with mood disorders or personality disorders cannot achieve intimacy and instead become fused together. To prevent abandonment, the partner may provoke romantic jealousy, but this can lead to the exact opposite effect and drive the other partner away. Finding the balance between intimacy and jealousy is difficult, and exaggerated regulatory behaviors can kill the relationship. The modern condition is that many people give up on relationships altogether.