Ep 101: Self Help Gurus, Narcissism, & Love Addiction ft. Sam Vaknin

Sam Vaknin is a professor of psychology and the author of "Malignant Self Love: Narcissism Revisited". We talk about how to deal with a narcissist, power of intimacy, the dangers of the self help industry, trauma and abuse, "experts" on the internet, downfall of society, sex and love addiction, how a fetish develops, therapy is overhyped, how to be attached to reality because of dissociation, & more. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST ON APPLE ITUNES & SPOTIFY: https://linktr.ee/mikekim​​​​​​ SAM VAKNIN Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/narcissismwithvaknin SAM VAKNIN'S WEBSITE https://samvak.tripod.com MIKE KIM https://www.instagram.com/mikekimcomedy THE SET BREAKER Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesetbreaker BUSINESS INQUIRIES: Business/Booking: mikekimcomedy@gmail.com Questions: setbreakerpod@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikekimcomedy Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikekimcomedy​​​​ TIME STAMPS: 0:54 - Sam Vaknin intro 1:12 - how Mike discovered Prof. Vaknin 2:58 - narcissistic dangers of self help industry 4:48 - YouTube & TikTok self help gurus 7:37 - psychology contradicts 90% of self help industry/self help is parenting for the childlike state 14:36 - anyone can be an "expert" on the internet 20:21 - people are intellectually regressing 23:31 - Prof. Vaknin is glad to be on the tail end of life 24:46 - Google started ranking by popularity & likability 25:39 - mentally ill people believe in conspiracy theories 29:11 - can a narcissist change for the better? 32:30 - psychopath vs narcissist 35:16 - in Europe personality disorders lare fluid 37:10 - characteristics of sex and love addiction 39:54 - you are not special to a sex & love addict, the partner is irrelevant 46:23 - love addiction is tougher than curing drug addiction 49:18 - a fetish develops when people have issues with intimacy 51:48 - intimacy is hard work, terrifying, & total vulnerability 54:26 - intimacy is the ultimate form of therapy, facing yourself, & becoming completely you 57:36 - therapy is an overhyped echo-chamber 58:41 - break yourself for self understanding, winning is social fantasy where you still lose 1:02:48 - Prof. Vaknin's lessons from going to prison 1:04:22 - why Mike has a leg fetish 1:05:41 - standup comedy and performance is a persona and not truly you 1:07:29 - Prof. Vaknin helps Mike with his fear of intimacy & standup comedy persona & detachment from reality 1:13:05 - intimacy is the solution to constriction