Nothingness and You in Buddhism and Daoism
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses his philosophical system of life, called nothingness, as an antidote to narcissism. He draws from Eastern influences, particularly Buddhism and Taoism, to explore the concepts of hope, love, and success, and their toxic effects on individual freedoms and authentic being. He emphasizes the interdependence of nothingness and existence, and the role of emptiness in generating value and function in the universe. His philosophy is a synthesis of Western and Eastern thinking, aiming to provide a new perspective on life.
Narcissist-Borderline: Take My Shadow, Give Me Love
Professor Sam Vaknin reads and reacts to comments on his YouTube channel, discussing the experiences of individuals in relationships with narcissists. He delves into the psychosexual behaviors of narcissists, their resistance to change, and their inability to maintain long-term relationships. He also explores the concepts of object constancy, ego incongruency, and the dynamics of borderline and narcissistic relationships.
What Can Twins Teach Us About Narcissism? (Webinar on Addiction Psychiatry and Human Resilience)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the lack of studies on twins in the field of psychology, particularly in relation to narcissism. Twins provide an ideal case study for understanding individual effects on personality disorders, but research in this area is scarce. Vaknin suggests that being a twin does not seem to be a significant predictor of developing Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) later in life. Instead, age and sex appear to be more important factors in the development and progression of NPD.
Narcissist=Insane? You, Envy, Withdrawal, Loner Narcissist
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the concept of the “lone wolf narcissist” and its connection to schizoid personality disorder. He delves into the psychological and societal factors contributing to this phenomenon, emphasizing the impact of modern life on individualism and social interactions. Vaknin also explores the relationship between narcissism and schizoid tendencies, shedding light on the complexities of these personality disorders.
Narcissist Is Your Dark Side You Envy Him, Want To Be Like Him
Professor Vaknin discusses the concepts of projection and reaction formation in the context of narcissism. He delves into the works of Freud, Jung, and other psychologists to explore how individuals project their own undesirable traits onto others and react to similarities with aggression and envy. He also touches on the dynamics of intimacy and conflict between closely related populations.
Dead Parents Clone Narcissists (and Codependents And Borderlines)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the three types of trauma: self-inflicted, reality-inflicted, and parental-inflicted. He emphasizes the critical role of mothers in personal development and the impact of trauma on growth. Vaknin also explores the concept of nothingness as a healthy narrative and expresses skepticism about the likelihood of a shift away from narcissistic narratives in society.
Jung against Freud: Narcissism is Healthy
Sam Vaknin discusses the differences between Freud and Jung’s views on narcissism. He presents Jung’s concept of the self as distinct from the ego and delves into the development of narcissism in early childhood. Vaknin also explores the impact of maternal behavior on the child’s psyche and the formation of personality disorders.
Narcissist’s Sexual Identities (ENGLISH responses)
Narcissists lack an ego and have no reality test, so they rely on other people to provide them with narcissistic supply. The cerebral narcissist uses their intellect to obtain supply, while the somatic narcissist uses their body and sex. However, all narcissists are both cerebral and somatic, with a dominant and recessive side. The dominant side is usually 70-80% of their life, but there is fluctuation between the two types. Narcissists are frozen at a young age and have no sexual or gender identity, leading to infantilization and reaction formation to their own sexuality.
Dissociation (Amnesia) & Confabulation in Narcissism (Intl. Conf. Clinical Counseling Psychology)
Sam Vaknin, a visiting professor of psychology, discusses dissociation in narcissistic disturbances of the self at a conference in Tokyo. He explains that the narcissist’s sense of self is regulated by feedback from others and that the narcissist’s true self is suppressed and replaced by a false self. The false self serves as a decoy and absorbs pain, while the true self becomes dysfunctional and detached. The narcissist experiences life as a detached observer, feeling alienated and controlled by the false self.
Freud and Jung on Cold Therapy: Re-integrating the Narcissist’s Self
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the psychodynamic theories of Freud and Jung, focusing on the narcissist’s true self, ego functions, and the development of personality disorders. He delves into the concepts of the ego, the self, and the shadow, and their impact on the individual’s integration and perception of self. Vaknin also explores the role of split off material and its effect on conflict resolution and the treatment of personality disorders.