Sam Vaknin, self-proclaimed psychopath?

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#1 Dec 21 - 8PM
survivalist
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Sam Vaknin, self-proclaimed psychopath?

I didn't know that, I just thought he was an expert on the topic. I'm watching his documentary now, the pursuit of his own diagnosis and exploration of his "condition"...

"Psychopaths… it takes one to truly know one. In this intriguing documentary, Sam Vaknin, a self-proclaimed psychopath, goes in search of a diagnosis. In a scientific first, he allows himself to undergo testing to find out if he was born without a conscience. He knows he’s narcissistic and cannot empathize with others. By his own admission, he’s pompous, grandiose, repulsive and contradictory, ruthless and devoid of scruples, capricious and unfathomable… but he believes, he’s not a bad person. What he is is indifferent…he couldn’t care less. Unless, of course, the topic is himself.

Vaknin and his long-suffering but ever-loyal wife, Lidija, embark on a diagnostic road trip. But, it’s uncharted territory… deep into the mind and life of a psychopath. The 47-year-old convicted corporate criminal has agreed to take part in the pursuit of his own diagnosis… meeting the world’s experts in psychopathy in the hope that science will provide some answers for why he is like he is. These experts put Vaknin (and his wife) through a battery of rigorous psychological tests and neuro-scientific experiments.

Vaknin is shocked at the results. Sam, his wife, the scientists, the film-makers – will they ever be quite the same again?"

link to documentary: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/i-psychopath/

Dec 23 - 9PM
GeorgiaGirl
GeorgiaGirl's picture

Interesting

I wouldn't classify Sam as a psychopath...cerebral narc, hell yes. I'm friends with him on facebook and while I find him grandiose and absolutely full of himself I haven't seen any evidence of him using/abusing other people the way psychopaths do. I can see that his grandiosity has led him to believe he needs further diagnosis (i.e. psychopath). It's kinda funny if you think about it for a minute. I have trouble watching his videos because they trigger me...apparently knowing what he is and hearing him speak on the abuse I lived through are just too much. But he is a fascinating individual without a doubt and a tremendous resource on the disorder.
Dec 23 - 9PM
uk lady
uk lady's picture

Survivalist

Yes, Sam is interesting and information at the same time. But, oh boy, his voice is so boring and I sometimes find it hard to listen to him for any length of time. However, Thomas Sheridan is just as informative but in a really down to earth manner and his voice is much easier to listen to. Love his Irish accent. You should google him too. Dee x
Dec 23 - 10PM (Reply to #3)
walking_on_sunshine
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Sheridan was a pleasure to

Sheridan was a pleasure to watch and learn from.
Dec 23 - 10PM (Reply to #4)
uk lady
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And I just love the way that

And I just love the way that he gets so passionate about getting his message across that he slips up and swears and then apologies and stumbles around for another word - then realises that his first word was more appropriate to the situation. At least he is human. Sam always appears like an android to me but then again, most Ns are. Dee x
Dec 23 - 10PM (Reply to #5)
walking_on_sunshine
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bias

I find sheridans information less biased as well. It seems pointless to me to try to put into perspective, information that is coming from someone who has disorderd thinking. I always find vaknins information skewed when I compare it to the original psychological concept it is attempting to present as. Sheridan on the other hand makes me want to go for coffee and just hang out :)
Dec 23 - 10PM (Reply to #6)
uk lady
uk lady's picture

I think that is exactly the difference between the 2 guys

TS originally did it out of empathy for others to make them aware and become alert to the P/Ns. That really comes across in his messages. SV does it for recognition and commercial gain. Read his CV he has jumped around various industries proclaiming his profound knowledge and expertise. Jack of all trades, master of none syndrome, methinks? Dee x
Dec 23 - 11PM (Reply to #7)
walking_on_sunshine
walking_on_sunshine's picture

spiderweb

Youthinks good ya lol. I see sam doing alot of what I would term "intentional manipulation of psychology constructs". For example, I find that he pathologizes co-dependancy by associating it with words such as "covert", "professional victim" and even the word "inverted narcissist" itself. These terms are sam vaknin constructs created by a disorderd biased man. He suceeded in making his constructs of codependancy fly because the description of co-dependancy was so ambigious in the first place. By creating his pathological stigmas on co-dependancy I feel that it encourages many individuals to think that if they acknolege thier own co-dependant traits ( co-dep as described by vaknin) then they are accepting the role of professional victim. Being the victim however is exactly what the various support websites do not want us to do. What a great way for him to keep a victim continually being a victim. With his covert discouragement, he can succeed in preventing healing and prolonging suffering. To me, his world is one big psychological cyber spider web.
Dec 24 - 12AM (Reply to #8)
uk lady
uk lady's picture

He's only doing what a N does

He's only doing what a N does naturally - creating confusion with ambiguity. And seems to get away with it because obviously he is a self-proclaimed N himself. Of course, as you have intimated, his aim is to keep us all spinning within his cyber spider's web. Unfortunately, it looks like it is working for most people. Thanks for your insights - no more SV for me although tbh I had reached that conclusion a while back. He was useful at the beginning of my journey - past that stage now. Take care. Dee x
Dec 24 - 12AM (Reply to #9)
walking_on_sunshine
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Me too, all the best to you,

Me too, all the best to you, stay safe!
Dec 23 - 9PM
bgirl
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What a confronting journey

What a confronting journey for his wife...