Narcissist: Negative Introjects, No Superego, Only Bad Object Internalized
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the difference between the super ego and negative introjects, emphasizing the confusion caused by self-styled experts online. He explains that the primitive superego is not the same as the superego and that the superego is the moral component of personality, representing parental and societal standards. Vaknin also delves into the concept of the internalized bad object and negative introjects, distinguishing them from the superego and highlighting the role of defense mechanisms in coping with these internal voices. Additionally, he touches on the self-system theory proposed by Harry Stack Sullivan.
YOLO Psychopaths vs. WOLF Narcissists
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the trilateral model of the psyche, consisting of the id, ego, and superego. He emphasizes that the superego is a part of the ego and plays a role in reality testing and socialization. Without a functioning ego and superego, individuals may lose reality testing and act on base desires without considering consequences, leading to antisocial behavior. Vaknin also explores the psychological phenomena of impulse control, disinhibition, and attentional narrowing in narcissists and psychopaths, linking them to reactive attachment disorder. He highlights the impact of rising narcissism and psychopathy on society, leading to a culture that glorifies lack of impulse control and disinhibition, and the subsequent challenges faced by victims and targets of narcissists and psychopaths.
Why the Emptiness in Borderlines, Narcissists? (Introjection Failure and Compulsive Introjection)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the emptiness inside borderlines and narcissists, exploring the origins and causes of this void. He explains that all individuals are born with an empty core and that the process of introjection and internalization is crucial in developing a sense of self and relationships with others. However, borderlines and narcissists struggle with these processes, leading to a persistent feeling of emptiness. Borderlines rely on external objects to compensate for their inability to introject, while narcissists constantly introject to mask their emptiness. Vaknin also delves into the concepts of object constancy, internalization, interjection, identification, and incorporation, and how dysfunctions in these mechanisms contribute to the development of borderline and narcissistic personalities.
Complexes: Your Shadow’s Double Bind (Internal Rhetoric)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the constant dialogue and conflict within the psyche, leading to a state of double bind. He explains the concepts of complexes and shadow in Jung’s work, emphasizing their role as organizing principles in the inner psyche. Vaknin delves into the nature of double bind, the conditions for its existence, and its impact on mental health. He also explores the relationship between complexes, archetypes, and the unconscious, highlighting their influence on memory, identity, and behavior. Vaknin concludes by proposing that the psyche is in a constant state of dialogue and conflict, leading to the emergence of specific complexes.
How Narcissist “Loves” YOU (Zagreb Lecture EXCERPT) (BOOTLEG)
In this lecture, Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the concept of the unconscious and its role in narcissism. He explains that defense mechanisms are automatic but not unconscious, and that the concept of the unconscious is debatable in psychology. He also touches on the history of the unconscious and its role in different psychological theories. The lecture ends with a thank you to the audience and the organizer for their participation.
Get Your Defenses Right! (Projection, Rationalization, Splitting)
Professor Vaknin discusses the misuse of psychological terms such as projection, rationalization, and splitting by self-styled experts online. He explains that projection involves attributing one’s negative traits to others, while rationalization is a defense mechanism used to justify socially unacceptable behaviors. Additionally, he delves into the concept of splitting, emphasizing its role in mental health and its connection to narcissism and borderline personality disorder. Vaknin highlights the confusion and misinformation surrounding these concepts and stresses the importance of accurate understanding and education in the field of psychology.
Talking to Narcissistic Abuse Victim, Coach (with Michelle Ecret)
In the lecture, Professor Sam Vaknin discusses his personal journey of awakening from a narcissistic relationship and the process of healing and recovery. He explains the dynamics of narcissistic abuse, the role of fantasy in the narcissistic relationship, and the psychological traits and behaviors of narcissists. He also addresses the concept of conscious awareness in narcissists and clarifies the distinction between attachment styles and narcissistic personality disorder. Throughout the conversation, he provides insights and explanations based on his expertise in the field of narcissism and abuse.
Narcissist Not Thinking Straight: Cognitive Disorders (Distortion, Bias, Deficit)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses cognitive deficits, biases, and distortions, and their impact on thinking processes. He explains that cognition is not just about thinking, but also about knowledge and understanding the world. He delves into the ways in which cognition can go awry, leading to attribution errors, fantasy, and reality distortion, particularly in individuals with personality disorders like narcissism. He also explores various theories related to cognitive dissonance, self-affirmation, and emotional arousal, and how they contribute to the cognitive and emotional experiences of individuals with pathological narcissism.
Darkest Side of Narcissistic Abuse: Is It Intentional? (with Claire Auden)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the nature of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), its prevalence in the population, and the distinction between NPD and narcissistic traits. He explains that narcissism is underdiagnosed, especially among certain demographics like women, who now represent half of those diagnosed with NPD. Vaknin also touches on the increase in narcissistic and psychopathic behaviors in society, the role of therapy in treating narcissists, and the challenges in changing the core behaviors of individuals with NPD. He emphasizes that narcissists have a childlike mentality and that their relationships follow a cycle of idealization and devaluation, ultimately leading to discard. Vaknin suggests that narcissistic abuse is unique in its totalizing effect on victims and is driven by the narcissist’s need to reenact early childhood conflicts. He concludes that while behavioral modifications are possible in therapy, core changes in narcissists are not.
Dostoyevsky’s Beef With Psychology Path Towards Its Renaissance ( Congress Presentation)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s quarrel with psychology and how it contrasts with modern psychology. Dostoyevsky’s work delves into the human soul and the individual’s reaction to society, contrasting with the statistical and pseudo-scientific approach of modern psychology. Dostoyevsky’s characters struggle with morality, suffering, and the conflict between the pursuit of truth and the rejection of life. His use of symbolism and exploration of the self reflect his own inner conflicts and his commitment to truth. His characters’ inner fixity and rejection of life lead to a spiritual death, and his work serves as a critique of narcissism and the pursuit of perfection.