Narcissist of Substance vs. Narcissist of Appearances There seem to be two types of narcissists: those who derive ample narcissistic supply from mere appearances and those whose narcissistic supply consists of doing substantial deeds, of acting as change-agents, of making a difference, and of creating and producing things of value. The former aim for celebrity (defined as 'being famous for being famous'), the latter aim for careers in the limelight.Keywords:
Sam Vaknin, narcissism, personality, narcissistic, narcissistic personality disorder, NPD, psychopaths, antisocial, psychopathology, therapy, relationships, abuse, divorce, battering, spousal abuse, domestic violence, psychotherapy, personality disorders, cluster B, DSM IV, self, ego, object relatio Obama's Narcissism Made Worse in First Year in Office Obama's pronoun density has doubled between January 20, 2009 and October 2009. It then subsided, though it is still about 50% over the level exhibited during his election campaign. This would seem to indicate that his pathological narcissism has been exacerbated in office as he was probably basking in media attention and the trappings of power. The backlash, such as it was, against several of his more egregious behaviours and faux-pas led him to modify his conduct and pay closer attention to his syntax and grammar: Obama is now acting modest. False modesty is another hallmark of raging, malignKeywords:
Sam Vaknin, narcissism, personality, narcissistic, narcissistic personality disorder, NPD, psychopaths, antisocial, psychopathology, therapy, relationships, abuse, divorce, battering, spousal abuse, domestic violence, psychotherapy, personality disorders, cluster B, DSM IV, self, ego, object relatio Transformations of Aggression The narcissist's favourite sadistic cocktail is brutal honesty coupled with 'helpful advice' and 'concern' for the welfare of the person attacked. The narcissist blurts out - often unprovoked - hurtful observations. These statements are invariably couched in a socially impeccable context. Akin to 'anger management', the sadistic narcissist also requires 'truth management' to teach him how to contain his impulsive and offensive 'honesty' and 'directness'.Keywords:
Sam Vaknin, abuse, antisocial, battering, divorce, domestic violence, dsm-iv, ego, harassment, narcissism, narcissistic, narcissistic personality disorder, npd, object relations, personality, personality disorders, psychodynamics, psychopaths, psychotherapy, relationships, self, spousal abuse, stalk Why Narcissists Cheat on their Spouses, Commit Adultery and have Extramarital Affairs and Liaisons Marriage, monogamy, and child-bearing and rearing are common activities that characterize the average person. The narcissist feels robbed of his uniqueness by these pursuits and coerced into the relationship and into roles - such as a husband and a father - that reduce him to the lowest of common denominators. This narcissistic injury leads him to rebel and reassert his superiority and specialness by maintaining extramarital affairs.Keywords:
Sam Vaknin, abuse, antisocial, battering, divorce, domestic violence, dsm-iv, ego, harassment, narcissism, narcissistic, narcissistic personality disorder, npd, object relations, personality, personality disorders, psychodynamics, psychopaths, psychotherapy, relationships, self, spousal abuse, stalk PCL-R (Psychopathy Checklist Revised) Test: What's Wrong with Psychological Tests The PCL-R is based on a structured interview and collateral data gathered from family, friends, and colleagues and from documents. The questions comprising the structured interview are so transparent and self-evident that it is easy to lie one's way through the test and completely skew its results. Moreover, scoring by the diagnostician is highly subjective (which is why the DSM and the ICD stick to observable behaviours in its criteria for Antisocial or Dissocial Personality Disorder).Keywords:
Sam Vaknin, narcissism, personality, narcissistic, narcissistic personality disorder, NPD, psychopaths, antisocial, psychopathology, therapy, relationships, abuse, divorce, battering, spousal abuse, domestic violence, psychotherapy, personality disorders, cluster B, DSM IV, self, ego, object relatio The Wikipedia Cult The inner core of the English-language Wikipedia has c. 2000 members. Of these, about 200-300 members make all the important, strategic decisions. The others monitor articles and edit them, usually in order to promote and protect their own points of view and interests. This is not an informal network: it is completely rigid with a hierarchy, titles, job descriptions, remits, and responsibilities. It is a stringently edited work, not a loose forum, or a BBS. Many in the upper echelons (and in Wikimedia, the non-profit that is overseeing the whole operation) earn salaries and enjoy junkets and pKeywords:
Sam Vaknin, Internet, web, browser, software, application, content, digital content, Britannica, Encarta, distribution, rights management, downloads, e-books, e-publishing, copyright, brands, reference, user generated content, Web, Wikipedia, spam, malware, Twitter, social networking, YouTube Why Do People Pay Taxes? People pay taxes because they want to belong to a collective, share a communal fate and a common lore, and enjoy the benefits of membership in the exclusive club of productive citizenry. To be a taxpayer is akin to sporting a badge of honour: it is a proof of personal integrity and industriousness, and, depending on the tax bill, a hallmark of success and prosperity. The payment of taxes bestows civil rights upon the payee: the cries 'I am an honest tax-paying citizen' or 'no taxation without representation' resonate in many a film and book.Keywords:
Sam Vaknin, transition, microeconomics, macroeconomics, business, government, privatization, private sector, public sector, capital, markets, stock exchange, shares, bonds, finance, banks, savings, credit, money The Second Middle Ages The fourth quarter of the twentieth century and the first decade of the twenty-first herald a period akin, in some respects, to certain stretches of the Middle Ages. The High Middle Ages - especially after the conquest of Spain by the Arabs (Moors) - was characterized by rapid technological and scientific progress.Keywords:
Sam Vaknin, philosophy, mind, ethics, moraility, robot, Turing, automata, cognitive, psychology, physics, science, culture, power, technology, virtual, ontology, quantum mechanics, epistemology, AI Riots in Egypt about Food, not about 'Freedom' Like in dozens of other developing countries, the Egyptians struck a Faustian deal with their rulers: they gave up their liberty in return for personal safety, job security, and middle-class prospects. Mubarak, the country's much-maligned Pharaoh failed to deliver on all three counts. Having thus breached the unwritten social contract, the Egyptians want him to pay the ultimate political price and abdicate humiliatingly.Keywords:
Sam Vaknin, egypt, mubarak, arab spring, israel, usa, democracy, dictatorship REVIEW Pears Cyclopedia 2010-2011 The Cyclopedia is kept astoundingly up to date by a dedicated team of 30 or so scholar-contributors. I spotted hundreds of updates even in a cursory sweep.Keywords:
Sam Vaknin, pears cyclopedia, Internet, web, browser, software, application, content, digital content, Britannica, Encarta, distribution, rights management, downloads, e-books, e-publishing, copyright, brands, re
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