Diagnosed Psychopath shares the Mechanism of Narcissistic Supply

Whitewashed Maybe but you can still see the Truth

In interviews with Edwin Rutsch, Sam Vaknin, noted and diagnosed psychopath/malignant narcissist, tells what it is like being a psychopath.

He often refers to himself though as a narcissist, but if you want to see him diagnosed as a psychopath, watch the documentary, I Psychopath on Youtube.

Vaknin is the first psychopath to be clever enough to admit to being one, and work diligently to show the "benefits to the world" they can bring.

We know already that many world leaders are and were psychopaths over the centuries, some tirants doing no good and others doing just enough good to fool the voters.  Some of them doing actually much good as long as they get what they need and more - guarantees for life security and adulation. Vaknin calls this "cold empathy" that the clever ones playact in a display to gain more narcissistic supply - or things, money, and adulation.

It was interesting to see Rutsch force Vaknin to describe what is going on inside his body and mind when he's trolling for a narcissistic supply fix, and especially when he's just about to close the deal as it were - To make the victim cry uncle, give him money, the best end of a deal, attention, time, empathy, or adulation.  Those things that the psychopath and narcissist needs desperately 24/7, as described, feed his ego and remind him that after all he is really wonderful, beautiful, intelligent, worthy, and the most important person alive.  Beneath this mask or false self, the psychopath/narcissist is nothing, empty, and very insecure.

So, Vaknin, after being cleverly prodded by Rutsch, for the narcissistic supply of getting the interview, backs down and does the work to try to 'feel' something or anything inside himself and describe it for the viewers.  He describes how it feels to be on the precipice of a deal and about to get that money and or adulation.  He says it's like an addict jonesing really bad and about to score the dope.  He sees his victim about to swallow the lie, give into the manipulation, or best, bumbling to finally thank him for destroying their life.  The best psychopath can injure a person and have them in the same moment feel sorry for HIM and show him empathy while they are licking their own wounds.  These victims are not stupid.  They are doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, you name it.  All have been willing victims of the psychopath/narcissist.

Vaknin tries to tell us that it feels like a person having a panic attack just before he's securing that supply.  Obviously, since he's a psychopath, he's never had a panic attack.  They don't care enough about the reasons for which a panic attack comes about.  But, still I see what he's saying - it is stressful, and to him being a narcissist - MY headache is HIS brain tumor.  So it is stress that he experiences 24/7 which is why the narcissist is so controlling and manipulative - anything to lesson that stress or avoid it altogether until the next fix.  So my stressful feelings are the narcissist's panic attacks.

Vaknin admits to not caring about others.  He says he cannot.  There is nothing left in him to care - he barely has enough to care for himself.  That, too, is misperceived - I mean, it's all he does all day and night is care for and think of himself.  The person who has no energy left to care for himself is his his victim, and that's because the narcissist has sucked every ounce of energy from them.  He has heard this speech from his victims and so he adds this to the interview.  However, he may believe it to some degree, besides it sounding good.

I found the interviews with Vaknin just so interesting, and I have to say I am appreciative of a psychopath here, even though he admittedly says he is doing this for his own benefit. The interview, attention, the promotion of the sale of his business, his books, etc.

Interesting too, is that Vaknin found the need to come off as the suffering one.  An addict on the verge of shear panic attack mode trolling for the next fix 24/7.  Interesting for the fact that he's dealing with someone who knows about the subject and cannot be fooled.  Still, I see him trying to 'get over on' Rutsch.  It's just so well stamped in the DNA of a psychopath - just as every word is a manipulation or some form of a lie.

The trick is to navigate the manipulation for the ounce of truth - all the while protecting yourself and boundaries.  Rutsch does an excellent job.  Interestingly enough Rutsch's title of this interview workshop with Vaknin, is Circles for Empathetic Listening.  So, Vaknin is forced to if he wants the interview, play by the rules, and listen and repeat what Rutsch says and asks before giving a response.

What was derived so far from these interviews with a psychopath is that they cannot empathize.  They are empty in that area.  There frankly is nothing there when forced to describe how it feels inside.  But, there is something called cold empathy that narcissists and psychopaths use to partially play by the rules in life - ONLY in order to get whatever it is that they want.  Some sort of narcissistic supply.

Thank you Sam Vaknin for doing this - I do appreciate having the interviews to view and understand.  Also, thank you Edwin Rutsch for all your work with Empathy and your Empathy Circles.