Ukraine: From Invasion to PTSD (Newsweek, Part 2 – Part 1 in DESCRIPTION)
In an interview, Sam Vaknin discusses the attraction of psychology, the impact it can have on people’s lives, and the importance of creativity and humility in the field. He also touches on the meaning of life, trauma, and the decline of philosophy as a guiding principle in society. Vaknin emphasizes the interconnectedness of these issues and the need to resurrect philosophy as a means of setting ethical and rational guidelines for science, politics, and society.
Hurt in Intimacy: Path to Self-love (with Mike Kim, Standup Comedian)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses various topics in these transcripts. He talks about the differences between sex addiction and love addiction, the importance of intimacy for self-love and self-awareness, and the dangers of the self-help industry. He also shares his observations on the current state of society, including the prevalence of occult and esoteric thinking, conspiracy theories, and magical thinking, and the decline in literacy and attention span. Additionally, he discusses the correlation between narcissism and conspiracism and clarifies the differences between narcissists, psychopaths, and borderlines.
Addicted to Trauma Bonding? WATCH TO THE END! (with Stephanie Carinia, Trauma Expert)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses trauma bonding with Stephanie Carina, a clinical psychologist specializing in trauma and personality. Trauma bonding involves an extreme, one-sided attachment where the abused is attached to the abuser, but not vice versa. It is fostered by unpredictable, intermittent reinforcement and involves a power asymmetry. The abused often confuses intensity with truth and attention with love, leading to a fear of loneliness and self-deception. Trauma bonding is a collaborative form of self-mutilation and self-harm, serving to numb emotions, make the victim feel alive through pain, and punish themselves. Vaknin emphasizes that the abuser uses the victim to fulfill their own needs, and the victim is often addicted to the drama and intensity of the relationship. He suggests that society should teach people to cope with being alone, as many will not have relationships, and that therapy for trauma bonding must be carefully managed to avoid creating new dependencies.
Borderline, Narcissist: Why They Can’t Let Go of Each Other
The professor discusses the comments on his video and then delves into the differences between the shared fantasies of borderlines and narcissists. He explains that both types of individuals have similarities and traits, but their shared fantasies have different functions and dynamics. The narcissist’s shared fantasy is about engulfing, while the borderline’s shared fantasy is about being engulfed. He also explains the reasons behind the hoovering behavior of both types.
Why Narcissist Can’t Get You Out of His Mind? (Introject Constancy)
Narcissists use splitting as a defense mechanism, which involves seeing themselves as all good and others as all bad. They idealize their partner, but then need to discard them to separate from their original mother. To do this, they devalue their partner by taking the idealized snapshot of them and imbuing it with negative qualities. However, they cannot get rid of the internal object, causing them to devalue and discard their partner in reality. This is due to introject constancy, where the narcissist creates internal objects that are constant and reliable, unlike external objects.
Transformed Against Your Will Behind Narcissist’s Glass, Darkly (with Luke Elijah)
Dr. Sam Vaknin, a professor of psychology and finance, discusses the differences between bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, and psychopathy. He advises against confronting narcissists on their toxic behaviors and explains the psychology behind gaslighting and hoovering. Dr. Vaknin believes that while narcissists can change their behaviors, their internal state remains unchanged. He also clarifies the concept of healthy narcissism and expresses concern about the misinformation surrounding narcissism online.
Do Psychopaths Have Conscience, Morality Narcissists
Psychopaths and narcissists may have moral judgment, but lack empathy, leading to a lack of motivation to act morally. The internalism theory, which suggests that moral judgment alone motivates moral action, is challenged by the fact that psychopaths have moral judgment but do not act morally. Studies show that psychopaths have subtle deficits in moral cognition, but their moral judgment is intact. The lack of empathy means they do not regard others as separate individuals, making morality meaningless to them. This challenges the idea that psychopaths lack moral judgment and suggests that their deficits lie in empathy rather than moral cognition.
Feminism: From Equity to Psychopathy
Third and fourth wave feminism has led to three dead-end solutions: standardization, emasculation, and masculinization. These solutions have resulted in a gender war and a decline in relationships, marriage, and childbirth rates. The focus on career and casual sex has left both men and women ill-equipped for long-term committed relationships and traditional gender roles. The current state of feminism does not offer viable solutions for a healthy balance between men and women in society.
How Narcissist Experiences His Collapse (Grandiosity Bubbles and Delusional Solutions)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the collapse of narcissists when they are unable to obtain supply. He explains the internal dynamics and various solutions narcissists adopt in response to this deficiency, such as delusional narratives, antisocial behavior, paranoid schizoid tendencies, and masochistic avoidance. The narcissist’s withdrawal symptoms are compared to those of a drug addict, and the role of magical thinking in their behavior is explored.
Interrogate Your Partner: Their Past is Your Future
Professor Sam Vaknin advises that when considering a potential intimate partner, it is important to learn everything about their personal and sexual history. He suggests that you have the right to ask anything and everything, and your partner does not have the right to refuse to provide you with any information of a personal nature. Vaknin warns that people do not change, and the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. Therefore, it is crucial to interrogate your potential partner thoroughly and methodically to protect yourself against future nasty surprises.