Is Narcissist Self-aware, Introspective? (Global Meeting on Stress Management, March 2021)
Narcissists often have a false self that takes over their true self, leading to a lack of self-awareness and an inability to change. They may gain cognitive understanding of their disorder, but without an emotional connection, this knowledge does not lead to transformation or healing. The narcissist’s introspection is often emotionless and focused on maintaining their false self, rather than addressing their true emotions and experiences. As they grow older, their sources of narcissistic supply dwindle, leading them to withdraw further into a dreamland of grandiosity and potentially develop paranoia.
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI): Fortune Cookie or Reliable Test?
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a widely used and contested personality assessment test with various versions and millions of users worldwide. It is based on Jungian theory and classifies individuals into one of 16 personality types. While some studies have found the MBTI to be valid and useful, others criticize its dichotomous nature, lack of reliability, and deviation from Jung’s original theory. Despite these criticisms, the MBTI remains popular and can provide insight, raise self-awareness, and help individuals understand their past experiences and relationships.
BEWARE! “Healers” of Narcissism Ignorant or Swindlers, No Cure
In this video, Professor Sam Vaknin answers questions from viewers about narcissism. He explains that narcissists often sexually gray rock women, and that the schizoid cerebral narcissist seeks an arrangement where they are the child and their partner is the mother. Vaknin also argues that narcissism cannot be cured, only managed, and that anyone claiming to cure narcissism is either ignorant, a con artist, or a fake expert. He cites several authoritative sources to support his argument.
Future of Personality Disorders: ICD Revolutionary, DSM Craven
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the revolution in understanding personality disorders, with the ICD-11 leading the way in revising and reforming the way personality disorders are regarded. The ICD-11 proposes a single general personality disorder severity rating and a five-domain dimensional trait model. However, the DSM-5 failed to make a similar shift due to special interest groups and is now considered behind the times compared to the ICD-11. The DSM-5 committee’s lack of courage and intellectual integrity led to a messy and confusing manual that still relies on the outdated categorical model.
Narcissist’s Give and Take with Intimate Partner (Cheating on Cerebral Narcissist Schizoid)
In this video, Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the behavior of schizoid and cerebral narcissists in relationships. He explains why they allow their partners to cheat and how they react to it. Vaknin draws from his database of narcissists and his personal experience as a schizoid cerebral narcissist to support his points. He also delves into the reasons behind the narcissist’s behavior and the impact on their partners.
How Narcissist Is Mortified
Narcissistic behavior can be modified through treatment, but pathological narcissism is unchangeable. Narcissists have empathic aphantasia, meaning they cannot visualize other people in an empathic way. The misinformation effect is a bigger problem for narcissists than for normal people because they have severe problems with their memory and are dissociative. The longer the delay between the presentation of the original event and the post-event information, the more likely it is that individuals will incorporate the misinformation into the new memory.
Why Do You Stay, Narcissist Cheats, Both Triangulate?
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the reasons why people stay in relationships and why they cheat. He explains that people stay in relationships due to financial security, guilt, pity, shared memories, and societal pressures. Additionally, he delves into the reasons why narcissists cheat, attributing it to seeking narcissistic supply, frustration, and boredom, defiance, and pathological demand avoidance. He also discusses the concept of triangulation and its impact on relationships.
Sorry State of Psychology: NOTHING AGREED! (38th Global Psychiatry & Mental Health Conference)
Professor Sam Vaknin argues that psychology is not a true science due to its lack of agreement on fundamental concepts, ethical limitations in experimentation, the psychological uncertainty principle, and the uniqueness of psychological experiments. He believes that psychological theories are more akin to art or literature than science, and that using mathematical language does not make a discipline scientific.
How I Experience My Narcissism: Aware, Not Healed
Sam Vaknin discusses his experience with narcissism, how it has affected his life, and how it has become a part of his identity. He explains that narcissism is a personality disorder that defines the narcissist’s waking moments and nocturnal dreams. Despite his self-awareness, Vaknin admits that he is powerless to change his narcissism. The narcissist experiences their life as a long, unpredictable, terrifying, and saddening nightmare.
Dangerous Shared Fantasies: Coercive Control and Collusive Infidelity
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses shared fantasy, object constancy, mortification, enabling in codependency, toxic masculinity, and coercive control. Coercive control is a pattern of controlling behaviors that create an unequal power dynamic in a relationship, resulting in physical violence. Projective identification and collusive infidelity are also discussed. Vaknin suggests that a state legislature could create a new offense based upon the fraud-like nature of coercively controlling behavior.