Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD): Overview and Issues
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses histrionic personality disorder, its comorbidity with other personality disorders, and the various adaptive solutions that collapsed histrionics and narcissists resort to when faced with deficient narcissistic supply. He also delves into the dynamics of histrionic women’s interactions with men and the conflicting inner voices they experience.
How Narcissist, Borderline Overperceives YOU (and Reality)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the concept of overperception, a cognitive bias where individuals exaggerate or misperceive the intentions, emotions, and behaviors of others. He provides examples of overperception in various mental illnesses, such as narcissism, borderline personality disorder, and paranoia. Vaknin also explores the evolutionary basis and adaptive value of cognitive biases, as well as their impact on decision-making and emotional regulation. He emphasizes the role of cognitive distortions in shaping individuals’ perceptions and internal states, and discusses the implications for therapeutic interventions.
ChatGPT: Grandiose Pathological Liar (aka Psychopath), Confabulator (aka Narcissist)
Professor Sam Vaknin conducted a test with ChatGPT, an AI chat agent, asking 55 factual questions about himself. He found that ChatGPT provided 6 correct answers, 12 partially correct answers, and 37 disastrously wrong answers. Vaknin argues that ChatGPT’s responses are filled with fabrications and false information, presenting them as authoritative and factual. He accuses ChatGPT of manipulating users and misleading them, and calls for its removal from search engines due to its high rate of incorrect answers.
Keys to Understanding Our Times: From Identity to Attention to Reality
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the transitions in human history from the rise of the author and the original, to the age of intellectual property, to the attention economy, and finally to the impending dominance of reality by high-tech giants. He explains the impact of urbanization on the need for attention and the emergence of identity politics. Vaknin also delves into the challenges posed by digital goods, the attention economy, and the potential future of reality being controlled and customized by technology giants. He warns of the potential enslavement of individuals to these technological systems.
How to Resolve Your Inner Conflicts? Deceive Yourself!
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the availability of his video transcripts in an Android app and website. He clarifies the difference between parts and self-states in psychology. He then delves into the concept of dissonance and offers five ways to resolve conflicting thoughts and emotions. He also describes various types of dissonance and how they can be resolved using the same five solutions.
EPCACE: Between PTSD and CPTSD (Trauma in Adulthood, Late Onset)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the diagnosis of Enduring Personality Change After Catastrophe Experience (EPCACE) and its differentiation from Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). He argues that EPCACE should not be subsumed under CPTSD, as the reactions to the diagnostic issues are not the same. He suggests that EPCACE should be reconceived with a set of diagnostic criteria that incorporate symptoms such as somatization, self-harm, and sexual dysfunction. He also believes that diagnoses such as masochistic personality disorder, sadistic personality disorder, and negativistic, passive-aggressive personality disorder should not have been eliminated.
How To Tell If Someone Is A Pathological Liar
Pathological lying is a compulsive behavior that is not goal-oriented and has no purpose. Pathological liars weave elaborate and extensive lies that are self-destructive and self-defeating. They are emotionally invested in the act of lying and create an environment that is conducive to their subjective well-being. Pathological lying is not a symptom of any other mental illness and is a long-term problem. There are eight types of lies, including utilitarian, smokescreen, compassionate, ceremonial, compensatory, confabulatory, inferential, and hybrid lies.
Transient Narcissist: Substances, Circumstances
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses various topics related to narcissism, including transient and acquired situational narcissism, the effects of cocaine and alcohol on individuals, and how victims of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) can develop narcissistic and psychopathic traits. He explains how alcohol can fuel grandiosity and lead to reckless behavior, and how covert narcissists can become addicted to alcohol and other reckless behaviors. Vaknin suggests that treating the underlying personality disorder is necessary to address the narcissist’s addictions, and that techniques such as 12 Steps may be more effective in treating the narcissist’s grandiosity, rigidity, sense of entitlement, exploitativeness, and lack of empathy.
My War in Ukraine
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses his involvement in the war in Ukraine, including his resignation from a visiting professorship in Russia and his volunteering to help Ukraine with mental health treatment. He also criticizes Russia’s actions in the war and calls out conspiracy theorists who parrot Kremlin propaganda. Vaknin acknowledges the risks he faces for speaking out against Russia but believes it is important to do so. He concludes by calling on everyone to stand firm against evil and genocide.
Was Your Ex a Narcissist or a Psychopath?
Narcissists and psychopaths differ in their emotional investment in others and their goals. Narcissists are emotionally invested in shared fantasies, while psychopaths and malignant narcissists are not emotionally invested in anything or anyone. Psychopaths are goal-oriented and do not care about their careers, intellectual property, spouses, children, parents, community, public opinion, court system, law enforcement, or anything else. Narcissists love-ball, while psychopaths groom, and narcissists are liable to stalking and hoovering, while psychopaths just vanish.