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.
How You Recall Trauma (University Lecture)
Professor Sam Vaknin’s lecture discusses the controversy surrounding false memories, particularly those related to abuse. He explores the debate over the accuracy of memories of trauma and the distinction between core memories and peripheral memories. He also delves into the concept of mentalism and mentalization, as well as the impact of therapy on memory recall. The lecture emphasizes the complexity and malleability of memory, and the potential for false memories to be implanted or constructed.
False “Recovered” Memories or Real Abuse? (University Lecture)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the formation of false memories, particularly in the context of trauma and therapy. He emphasizes the potential for therapists to inadvertently influence the creation of false memories in their patients, and warns against the dangers of perpetuating victimhood for financial gain. He also delves into the psychological and neurological processes involved in memory formation and retrieval, as well as the impact of suggestibility, attachment styles, and mood on the creation of false memories.
Flashbacks in C/PTSD: “Emotional” vs. Real (See DESCRIPTION 1st! University Lecture)
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the construct of emotional flashbacks in complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) and its validity. He proposes a nuanced classification of PTSD, which includes overuse of dissociation, defensive compartmentalization of trauma, hijacked neurobiology with hallucinations, and numbing. Flashbacks are a key symptom of PTSD, involving the re-experiencing of traumatic events in the present. They are a way of coping with trauma and suspending the distinction between internal and external objects, and are a fundamental tool that we are born with. Flashbacks are intimately connected to trauma and dissociation, and involve reliving experiences.
Narcissist Invades, Replaces Your Comfort Zone, Boundaries (Lecture SF University)
Professor Sam Vaknin addresses students at Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation, discussing the impact of the pandemic on education and the shift to online lectures. He then delves into the topic of therapy, focusing on comfort zones, personal boundaries, and the evolving role of therapists in today’s society. Vaknin emphasizes the challenges therapists face in a society characterized by loneliness, narcissism, and malpractice. He also explores the concept of shared fantasy and its impact on individuals in dysfunctional relationships. Vaknin concludes by discussing the prevalence of narcissism and psychopathy in modern society and the implications for psychotherapists.
Scoop on Narcissism and Abuse (with Shayel Naava)
Sam Vaknin discusses the development of narcissism, its impact on relationships, and the challenges of treating it. He emphasizes the difficulty of intervening in early childhood and the ineffectiveness of traditional therapies. Vaknin also warns of the pervasive influence of narcissism in society and its potential for self-destruction.
Trusting After Narcissistic Abuse, Narcissism Reconceived, Treated: Cold Therapy (with Pi Winslow)
In this interview, Professor Sam Vaknin discusses narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) and its treatment. NPD is a result of trauma and abuse in early childhood, and narcissists create a false self as a defense mechanism. Treatment for NPD is difficult, as narcissists often do not see their disorder as a problem. Cold therapy, a treatment modality developed by Vaknin, involves re-traumatizing the narcissist to weaken the false self. However, even with treatment, some narcissistic traits will remain. Vaknin advises those living with a narcissist to avoid labeling them as such and to leave abusive relationships.
Narcissism’s Loose Ends
Professor Sam Vaknin discusses various topics in different sections. In the first section, he talks about the technicality of glass being an amorphous solid, which is actually a liquid. In the second section, he discusses gold diggers and their relationship with narcissists, arguing that faking is a form of virtue signaling and that narcissists do not have an ego. In the third section, he talks about the rise and fall of narcissism in American society and emotional reasoning. In the fourth section, he discusses why some narcissists are successful while others are not, destructive narcissism, and the fallacy of assuming a universal human nature. Finally, he warns about the pursuit of meaning, addiction to hope, and aversion to risk leading to extinction as a species.
Body Taboos and Water Sports (ENGLISH responses)
In this transcript, Professor Sam Vaknin discusses BDSM and its potential use as an anxiety-reducing tool for narcissists. He also explores the taboo surrounding urine and feces in sexual practices, arguing that these prohibitions are relatively new and have no clinical or biological basis. Vaknin suggests that constriction of sexual behaviors is harmful and that the rebels who engage in BDSM and other taboo practices represent true and healthy sexuality.
Internet: Heavenly Narcissism Factory (Convo with Guy Sengstock)
Sam Vaknin discusses the profound impact of society and technology on the individual, suggesting that the internet and social media have led to a societal shift where people have chosen the world over the self, resulting in a form of collective narcissism. He argues that technology has become a substitute for essence, and that cyberspace is akin to a digital Platonic cave. Vaknin also touches on the idea that humans and computers are both universal machines, capable of unfurling numerous future potentialities. He suggests that the internet has become a realm where people defend their essence rather than just appearances, and that this has led to a loss of individuality and an increase in narcissistic behavior. Vaknin also discusses the concept of malignant egalitarianism, where technology and democracy have been co-opted by the masses as tools of empowerment and rebellion against the elites who created them. He concludes that in a civilization that celebrates the inanimate over the animate, one must become “dead” inside to succeed, and that this has led to a loss of hope and the ability to become, as all life and functionality are outsourced to others.