Why Narcissist Never Listens to YOU? (Hint: Because he CAN’T: Attentional Narrowing)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the concept of attentional narrowing and hyper focus in narcissism. He explains that narcissists suffer from dissociation, memory gaps, and amnesia, which are not fully explained by dissociation. Attentional narrowing is a serious problem for narcissists, as their attention is focused on obtaining narcissistic supply and maintaining grandiosity, leading to a lack of attention for others and the environment. Hyper focus and attentional narrowing are also observed in other mental health conditions such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and psychopathy. These phenomena are associated with heightened emotional arousal and a drive to withdraw from negative emotions. The lecture emphasizes the negative impact of attentional narrowing on self-control and the ability to focus on relevant information.
Mortified Narcissist, Borderline Switch Places: New Ideas for Therapy? (and Supply)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the concept of narcissistic modification and its effects on the narcissist’s psyche. When a narcissist experiences modification, their defense mechanisms shut down, leading to emotional dysregulation and a sense of shame. This process can lead to a temporary transition to a borderline personality organization. The restoration of the narcissistic state hinges on narcissistic supply, which is preceded by a phase of self-supply. The lecture also explores the mirror image of this process in borderline personality disorder and suggests therapeutic implications for both conditions.