Genius or Gifted? IQ and Beyond (News Intervention Interview)
In this transcript, Professor Sam Vaknin discusses IQ, intelligence, genius, and giftedness in an interview with News Intervention. He clarifies that any result above 160 is not normatively validated and that intelligence is anything that endows an individual with a comparative advantage at performing a complex task. He also explains that giftedness resembles autism and that it is the ability to accomplish tasks inordinately well or fast by focusing on them to the exclusion of all else. Additionally, he notes that many so-called geniuses with high IQ are dysfunctional and deficient when it comes to life, intimacy, relationships, and social skills.
How Narcissist Steals Your Unconscious, Lures YOU into His Nightmare World
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses how narcissists lure their victims into their surreal and nightmarish world. He compares the experience of being with a narcissist to various literary and philosophical examples, such as Alice in Wonderland and Lacan’s mirror stage. Narcissists create a dreamlike state for their victims, causing them to lose their sense of self and reality. The narcissist’s world is one of infinite emptiness, where victims become trapped in a maze of mirrors, unable to find their way out.
Curing Your Narcissist (News Intervention Interview)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses various treatment modalities for narcissistic personality disorder, including cold therapy, which he developed. Cold therapy aims to render the false self redundant and eliminate the need for narcissistic supply. Vaknin also reviews other therapies such as dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavior analysis system of psychotherapy, and schema therapy. However, he emphasizes that while some behaviors can be modified, the core of the narcissist remains empty and untouchable.
How Narcissist Perceives Narcissistic Abuse (with Charles Bowes-Taylor)
Sam Vaknin, a professor of psychology and author of books on narcissism, discusses his work and the development of the field. He suggests that narcissism is a form of religion and that narcissists try to convert non-narcissists to their religion. Narcissistic traits, style, personality, and disorder are distinguished by quantitative differences that become qualitative. The guest describes her experience of being hoovered by her narcissistic ex-partner and how it triggered both good and bad memories. In this conversation, Sam Vaknin discusses the nature of narcissists and their relationships with others.
Insider View on Narcissism: What Makes Narcissist Tick (News Intervention Interview)
Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by a lack of empathy, grandiosity, and attention-seeking behavior. Narcissistic abuse is a subtype of abusive behavior that is pervasive, sophisticated, and manipulative, with the intention to negate the victim’s personal autonomy and well-being. Victims of narcissistic abuse often experience depression, anxiety, disorientation, and trauma bonding. To cope with narcissists, one can employ various techniques, such as setting boundaries, avoiding confrontation, and seeking support from others.
Are Fathers Needed? Mothers Are, For Sure!
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the controversial topic of whether fathers are necessary for raising healthy, functional, and pro-social children. He argues that fathers are largely not needed, and the importance of the mother in the upbringing, shaping, and formation of children is more significant. He also discusses the impact of parental divorce on children’s mental health, family relationships, and education, and highlights that culture, context, and socioeconomic status matter. Additionally, he cites various studies that challenge the idea that father absence has a significant impact on children’s well-being, and argues that the major factors that affect children’s well-being have nothing to do with the father or with his absence.
20 WRONG Ideas About Therapy, Psychology
Psychology is a vast field that goes beyond therapy and mental health, encompassing various aspects of human behavior, cognition, and emotion. It is not a science, but rather a discipline with a rich body of literature and insights. Psychologists work in various settings, not just clinical ones, and can help people gain insights into their lives and behaviors. While some myths about psychology may hold a grain of truth, it is important to recognize the complexity and value of the field.
How to Become the REAL YOU (Interview, News Intervention)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses his philosophy of nothingness in an interview with Scott Douglas Jacobson. He explains that nothingness is about choosing to be human, not a lobster, and putting firm boundaries between oneself and the world. Vaknin believes that narcissism is a cry for help and that nothingness is an antidote to it. He advises people to identify the only voice inside them that is truly them and to become authentic.
Therapist Your Father, Wife Your Mother: Transference as Flashback Light
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the concept of transference in psychology, comparing it to a “flashback light” where individuals project emotions and ideas from past relationships onto new figures in their lives. He explains how transference can lead to dysfunctional patterns of behavior and relational dynamics, particularly in individuals with certain attachment styles or personality disorders. Vaknin also delves into the concept of projective identification, where individuals try to force new people in their lives to conform to familiar, often unhealthy, relational patterns from the past. Ultimately, he views transference as a resistance and a repetition compulsion that seeks redemptive resolution but never materializes.
(Psychological) Resistance Not Futile, Just Bad FOR YOU
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the concept of resistance in psychology, which is the use of psychological defense mechanisms to cope with uncomfortable information about oneself. There are four groups of resistances: comfort zone preservation, resistance to dread and panic-inducing insights and interpretations, cognitive distortions, and resistances intended to cement and defend a narrative. Resistances can be both externalized and internalized, and are linked to negative affectivity, aggression, and mood. To better understand and change the way resistances shape our world, it is important to focus on understanding people and the deep processes behind these psychological phenomena, rather than just observing their externalized manifestations.