Professor Sam Vaknin, an expert on narcissistic abuse studies, unpacks how narcissism morphs into a pathological force shaping social media and politics – but a certain amount is essential for world leaders in high-stakes roles.
Malignant narcissism, seen in 5% of Fortune 500 CEOs, can blend with psychopathy to create exploitative leaders. Vaknin argues narcissism is now a cultural cornerstone, amplified by social media’s attention economy. Can we harness this force for good, or is it too late?
Prof. Sam Vaknin is a writer, professor of psychology, and author of Malignant Self Love: Narcissism Revisited. A former IMF consultant and editor of Global Politician, he lectures on personality disorders and proposed a theory on chronons and time asymmetry. More at https://x.com/samvaknin
Sarah Westall is an investigative journalist, entrepreneur, and former business professor at Carlson School of Business. She authored the best-selling “Exposing Blackmail” and founded United for Free Speech. A systems design expert, she helped build the internet at USWEST !nterprise. More at https://x.com/sarah_westall
