The speaker explains the internal conflict of pathological narcissism as two irreconcilable narratives—grandiosity (godlike omnipotence) and victimhood (external locus of control)—which produce intense anxiety and lead to externalized self-regulation via narcissistic supply. To resolve this dissonance, narcissists construct “internal solutions” (e.g., believing they control, permission, create, or imitate others) that preserve both omnipotence and victim status through self-deception and religious-like narratives. The talk connects these mechanisms to theological themes and argues that narcissism functions as a compensatory, all-consuming machinery akin to a personalized religion. How Narcissist Survives Defeats, Errors, Failures