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Tag: Sam Vaknin

How Witnessing a Trauma Can Traumatize YOU (Vicarious Traumatization and Moral Injury)

Vicarious traumatization and moral injury highlight the profound psychological consequences of witnessing trauma and injustice. Understanding these phenomena is vital for mental health professionals, first responders, and anyone exposed to distressing events indirectly. Recognizing the signs, seeking support, and taking proactive steps can help mitigate the far-reaching effects of trauma that extend beyond direct victims.
By fostering awareness and compassion, society can better support those grappling with the invisible wounds of trauma and moral injury, ensuring that the ripple effects do not cause further harm. How Witnessing a Trauma Can Traumatize YOU (Vicarious Traumatization and Moral Injury)

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19.02.2026

Mindblindness: Mental Maps, Attachment Styles, Internal Working Model (IWM)

The intricate system of mental maps and models shapes our understanding of ourselves and others. The internal working model of attachment, rooted in early experiences and theory of mind development, profoundly influences how we relate to people throughout life. By grasping these concepts, we unlock deeper insights into human behavior, identity, and the foundations of healthy relationships. Mindblindness: Mental Maps, Attachment Styles, Internal Working Model (IWM)

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19.02.2026

Collective Narcissism and Its Leaders: Case of Macedonia (with Nikola Ristevski)

This illuminating conversation blends science, psychology, culture, and politics to offer a comprehensive outlook on Macedonia’s challenges and opportunities. It stresses the power of language, time, and collective consciousness in shaping reality and identity.
Macedonia stands at a crossroads: the path toward economic diversification, intellectual leadership, national cohesion, and creative expression offers hope for transformation. However, this requires courage to confront harsh realities, the creation of new parallel structures, and the rekindling of dreams and poetry in public life.
With its rich cultural heritage, resilient people, and strategic geographic position, Macedonia holds the promise of becoming a vibrant, innovative nation. The future depends on nurturing leadership that balances vision with emotional maturity and cultivating a society united by shared goals and inspired by creativity. Collective Narcissism and Its Leaders: Case of Macedonia (with Nikola Ristevski)

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13.02.2026

Overcome Narcissist Aftermath: Your Grief is Shared Fantasy, too!

Recovering from narcissistic abuse grief requires understanding the complex fantasy dynamics that bind you to your abuser and yourself. By recognizing how the shared fantasy distorts reality and identity, you gain the power to dismantle it.
The journey through denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance, and finally hope is neither linear nor easy but is essential for reclaiming your true self. With self-compassion, support, emotional honesty, and time, you can move beyond the shadow of the narcissist and create a fulfilling, authentic future.
Remember, healing is a process, not a destination. Be patient and gentle with yourself as you transform grief into growth. Overcome Narcissist Aftermath: Your Grief is Shared Fantasy, too!

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12.02.2026

Is It Natural to Kill Our Parents? Dark Psychology of Parricide (with Maureen Callahan, The Nerve)

Parricide is a rare but deeply disturbing act that challenges our understanding of family, identity, and human nature. Far from being simply a shocking headline, it is rooted in complex psychological, social, and evolutionary factors. Recognizing these dynamics is essential not only for comprehending such tragedies but also for prevention and healing.
By exploring parricide through historical, psychological, and familial lenses, we gain a deeper understanding of the dark, often invisible struggles within families. This knowledge urges us to look beyond sensational headlines and reflect on the profound human pain that underlies such acts — a pain that demands empathy, attention, and action. Is It Natural to Kill Our Parents? Dark Psychology of Parricide (with Maureen Callahan, The Nerve)

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12.02.2026

Narcissism and Vicarious, Simulated Life

Vicarious experience is a powerful and often underappreciated mechanism by which humans learn, adapt, and emotionally fulfill themselves. Whether through games, crime fascination, activism, affairs, or even narcissism, these simulated experiences offer a risk-free way to prepare for life’s uncertainties and complexities.
Rather than viewing vicarious experience as mere fantasy or avoidance, recognizing its role in mental simulation and emotional preparation helps us understand human behavior more deeply. Embracing these experiences mindfully can enhance resilience, empathy, and personal growth in an unpredictable world. Narcissism and Vicarious, Simulated Life

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12.02.2026

Infidelity as Shared Fantasy

Infidelity and love affairs are multifaceted phenomena revealing much about human psychology:
They expose the interplay between self-identity, emotional needs, and relational dynamics.
Shared fantasies and infidelity serve as coping mechanisms for unmet needs and unresolved childhood conflicts.
Cheating is often a symptom of deeper issues—immaturity, lack of emotional resources, and failure to process distress constructively.
Understanding these dynamics can foster empathy and guide healthier relationship practices. Infidelity as Shared Fantasy

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12.02.2026

Adler: Narcissism is Social, Striving for Superiority, Excess Self-efficacy (Contra Freud)

Alfred Adler’s Individual Psychology represents a transformative chapter in the history of psychology. His integration of biological, psychological, and social factors created a holistic framework that challenged Freud’s psychoanalysis and paved the way for modern psychological thought. By emphasizing social interest, free will, and the universal experience of inferiority, Adler offered a hopeful, pragmatic, and deeply humanistic vision of mental health and personal development. Adler: Narcissism is Social, Striving for Superiority, Excess Self-efficacy (Contra Freud)

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12.02.2026

Recovery’s Uneven Path: Setbacks, HOPE after Narcissistic Abuse (Skopje Seminar, Day 2, Lecture 3)

Recovering from narcissistic abuse is akin to regaining lost physical and psychological faculties after severe trauma. Victims often find themselves regressed to infancy, needing to rebuild their relationship with their body and mind piece by piece.
By fostering attention, regulation, and protection of the body, shedding victimhood mentality, and cultivating authenticity, positivity, and mindfulness in the mind, survivors can embark on a transformative path toward healing.
This holistic approach empowers victims to become allies with their bodies and minds, reclaim their identities, and ultimately break free from the cycles of abuse and victimization. Recovery’s Uneven Path: Setbacks, HOPE after Narcissistic Abuse (Skopje Seminar, Day 2, Lecture 3)

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12.02.2026

Narcissism: Heredity, Overt-Covert Genders, Confabulation, and Elephants

Understanding narcissism and animal behavior requires a critical mindset that separates ideology from evidence. Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a nuanced condition influenced more by environment than heredity, with gender differences in how it manifests. Similarly, elephant behavior defies simplistic, idealized portrayals, revealing a complex social structure rife with conflict.
For both psychology and ethology, acknowledging complexity and avoiding oversimplification leads to better knowledge and more effective interventions, whether in clinical settings or wildlife conservation. Narcissism: Heredity, Overt-Covert Genders, Confabulation, and Elephants

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12.02.2026

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