The Narcissist’s Playbook : It’s a Vak Attack!
4 thoughts on “The Narcissist’s Playbook : It’s a Vak Attack!”
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Sam Vaknin was actually my introduction to the subject of narcissism. His books hadn’t been translated into Russian, but translations of some of his articles were available, and at the time I found them very helpful. It was fascinating to hear your analysis of him, HG. It’s a shame he chose not to use his knowledge for good.
The more I hear of this ‘project,’ including Isla Traquair’s podcast about it, the more I think it’s all questionable.
I think Isla Traquair is genuine when she says her aim is to ‘stop’ Vaknin abusing other women. However, I also think she is being used as bait to lure Vaknin into a snare. Not that I care about what happens to Vaknin; I think he fully deserves to be outed. It’s just that this cat and mouse game the filmmakers are playing could backfire on them.
After listening to the first three episodes of Isla Traquair’s podcast, my main thought was that it’s all so sordid – all of it.
The horrible alleged abuse of a young woman by Vaknin over seven years is sickening. If it’s true, he is nothing more than scum and should be in prison for a long time.
The whole project does feel like a hit-piece, though, and the filmmakers are milking it for attention and publicity which adds to the sordidness.
It will be interesting to see if it culminates in a criminal investigation.
On the subject of Sam Vaknin, an Australian documentary about him called ‘I, Psychopath’ was released in 2008. (It’s available in full on YouTube if anyone is interested.)
The 2008 documentary was made by filmmaker Ian Walker. In the film, Walker and his film crew follow Vaknin to a number of different countries while researching and interviewing him and his wife, Lidija Rangelovska, along the way.
Vaknin’s personality is on display in the 2008 film. He regularly subjects Walker to angry, impatient, and belittling rants and tirades. By the end of the film, Walker discusses the harmful effects he has internalised as a result of Vaknin’s control and abuse. The devaluation of Walker by Vaknin is disgusting and it is on film.
Interestingly, in the course of Walker’s long interviews with him, Vaknin discusses his academic credentials and admits his PhD is fake. In his own words, during which he was filmed, Vaknin says:
“The PhD was acquired in a diploma mill. Diploma mill in the United States means a place where you buy your degrees. So it’s a diploma mill, I’m not a real PhD.”
To this, Walker responds: “You’re still a doctor though.”
And Vaknin says: “Technically, I am a PhD. I worked two years, I presented a thesis, the thesis was reviewed by peers, it is in the Library of Congress, you can see. But, between you and me, that’s not the rigorous PhD that people are led to believe when you use the title.”
Straight from the horse’s mouth.
The 2008 documentary provides some interesting insights into Vaknin’s personality and narcissism. It does make him appear to be too boastful to realise that he’s actually digging a hole for himself.
Hi Wisernow:
From a legal perspective, I think Sam will not be charged.
First, many of the women not all but most are past the statute of limitations. They go back decades to one in the present. Isla is working on that…. Even Bill Cosby barely got caught due to the statute of limitations in criminal court in the USA and in one State I think it was 10 years that the victim was able to pursue the criminal case.
Second, Sam is smart. He could get a license but he remains a professor and a life coach by legal definition. There is little regulation over life coaches…. Anywhere… whereas if he was a licensed psychologist most countries have regulations where his license could be yanked, penalties imposed and even criminal prosecution pursued. Sam is not. Now I get the real reason behind his disclosures…..
Third: psychological abuse is the main form of abuse even if it is to direct the victim to suicide. There are emails where Sam admits to rape and allegations of rape BUT in a “ consensual” relationship, many prosecutors won’t take the case. Date rapes are often not pursued unless evidence of violence. Emails can be explained away. And if the rape victim failed to make a police report at the time… very difficult to get a prosecutor on board. Some countries consider psychological abuse a crime. The UK does with a 5 year prison sentence. How many of these cases are prosecuted however? Macedonia doesn’t have a crime for psychological abuse.
In the USA, a civil suit would bury him and a class action no doubt….as there would be breach of fiduciary duties, intentional infliction of emotional distress etc… In civil law, there are some ways around the statute… the Catholic Church is still paying out claims to adults of alleged childhood abuse. It’s complicated but in the USA there are some ways of extending a statute. If in the USA, Sam would probably settle with a confidentiality clause. No idea what Macedonia law is. And no USA victims that I know of.
I think of Russell Brand. A police report was made and timely sexual assault cases were brought and in the UK.
I think of Andrew Tate but he was on interpols watch list for human trafficking and multiple countries were after him. Timely and a complex system.
Sadly, Sam will skate… for now in the criminal justice system I think. That’s my prediction. Unlike Diddy or Cosby or Epstein, no trial lawyers in Macedonia like the USA taking on the victim cases . Right now, Sam is ignoring the allegations and posting on his YouTube like crazy. I think he is responding online himself and or through others to manage his reputation… covertly… claiming it’s all lies, it’s Grannon, he is innocent. And I think he attacks HG in a not so subtle way. Does he do an online video without calling “ so called empaths” as idiots, narcs, victims of a narc, psychopaths etc… make references to con men and those without degrees in psychology ( of course he skips licenses). My guess is HG has read every book Sam has.
Anyway…. One can hope it sheds light on Sam and that Isla has managed to dent his pool of targets from engaging but … sigh… I doubt it will end.
As for Vicente, I said it before, I will say it again. He was in a cult for a LONG time. He did a film to bring it down. Of course that was his aim in this one. Right from the start. Not much to learn about narcissism in it or in any of his videos. Even his neuroscience has little to say that is not known but maybe… maybe helpful to beginners. The misinformation bugs me. But hey… maybe they will find our glorious narrator and get educated!
I have read nothing of Vaknin´s work. I have no need. I explain narcissism and psychopathy from my perspective, experience and observations, not using someone´s else’s prolix work.