It is characterized by an exaggerated sensitivity to rejection, resentfulness, distrust, as well as the inclination to distort experienced events. Neutral and friendly actions of others are often misinterpreted as being hostile or contemptuous. Unfounded suspicions regarding the sexual loyalty of partners and loyalty in general as well as the belief that one’s rights are not being recognized is stubbornly and argumentatively insisted upon. Such individuals can possess an excessive self-assurance and a tendency toward an exaggerated self-reference. The use of the term paranoia in this context is not meant to refer to the presence of frank delusions or psychosis, but implies the presence of ongoing, suspiciousness and distrust of people. Paranoid Personality experience following types of delusions:
- Delusion of grandeur: This delusion is characterized by fantasies of exaggerated estimation of wealth, power, or status. Delusional conviction of one's own importance, power, or knowledge or that one is, or has a special relationship with, a divinity or a famous person. It includes an obsession with grandiose or extravagant things or actions.
- Delusions of reference: Involve a person having a belief or perception that irrelevant, unrelated or innocuous things in the world are referring to them directly because they are very important and special. Delusion of grandeur is the cause of this delusion. For instance few boys were standing at the corner of the street .they laughed at some joke but a person who had delusion of reference, thought they were talking, infact planning against him and laughed at the completion of their plan.
Some time they can have experiences such as:
• Feeling that people on television or radio are talking about, or talking directly to them
• Believing that headlines or stories in newspapers are written especially for them
• Having the experience that people (often strangers) drop hints or say things about them behind their back
• Believing that events (even world events) have been deliberately contrived for them, or have special personal significance
• Seeing objects or events as being deliberately set up to convey a special or particular meaning
- Delusion of persecution: A delusion that one is being attacked, harassed, persecuted, cheated, or conspired against. Perceives attacks on his/her character or reputation that are not apparent to others and is quick to react angrily or to counterattack.
- Seductive Delusions: False believe that other women or men are sexually attracted.
- Delusion of jealousy: Constantly anxious, concerned and having a frantic feeling of being great. So other people are jealous and want to kill, so many times they stop visiting relatives and do not eat anything from relative’s houses and ultimately become completely lonely. Some time they have false believe that one's spouse or lover is unfaithful, based on erroneous inferences drawn from innocent events imagined to be evidence.
Predictability vs changeability: If a person has Anti social personality disorder, a Forensic Psychologist can predict that in what type of circumstances this person can be dangerous. But the opposing view holds that human beings can change.
Can humans change?
We know from our own experiences and religious history that yes human beings can change some time under influence of “Wali Ullah” and some times other things help a person to transform. But other psychologists argue that such instances are rare. Usually people’s personalities are stable. But I am one of those psychologists who believe that human beings can change and psychotherapy and treatment can help such people to change. But what do you think? What is your opinion about this debate of changeability? Can human beings change? Can psychotherapy/psychological treatment help such people? Can legal system take some steps to help such people change? Because if you start thinking; you are on your way to become a forensic psychologist.
- Delusion of grandeur: This delusion is characterized by fantasies of exaggerated estimation of wealth, power, or status. Delusional conviction of one's own importance, power, or knowledge or that one is, or has a special relationship with, a divinity or a famous person. It includes an obsession with grandiose or extravagant things or actions.
- Delusions of reference: Involve a person having a belief or perception that irrelevant, unrelated or innocuous things in the world are referring to them directly because they are very important and special. Delusion of grandeur is the cause of this delusion. For instance few boys were standing at the corner of the street .they laughed at some joke but a person who had delusion of reference, thought they were talking, infact planning against him and laughed at the completion of their plan.
Some time they can have experiences such as:
• Feeling that people on television or radio are talking about, or talking directly to them
• Believing that headlines or stories in newspapers are written especially for them
• Having the experience that people (often strangers) drop hints or say things about them behind their back
• Believing that events (even world events) have been deliberately contrived for them, or have special personal significance
• Seeing objects or events as being deliberately set up to convey a special or particular meaning
- Delusion of persecution: A delusion that one is being attacked, harassed, persecuted, cheated, or conspired against. Perceives attacks on his/her character or reputation that are not apparent to others and is quick to react angrily or to counterattack.
- Seductive Delusions: False believe that other women or men are sexually attracted.
- Delusion of jealousy: Constantly anxious, concerned and having a frantic feeling of being great. So other people are jealous and want to kill, so many times they stop visiting relatives and do not eat anything from relative’s houses and ultimately become completely lonely. Some time they have false believe that one's spouse or lover is unfaithful, based on erroneous inferences drawn from innocent events imagined to be evidence.
Predictability vs changeability: If a person has Anti social personality disorder, a Forensic Psychologist can predict that in what type of circumstances this person can be dangerous. But the opposing view holds that human beings can change.
Can humans change?
We know from our own experiences and religious history that yes human beings can change some time under influence of “Wali Ullah” and some times other things help a person to transform. But other psychologists argue that such instances are rare. Usually people’s personalities are stable. But I am one of those psychologists who believe that human beings can change and psychotherapy and treatment can help such people to change. But what do you think? What is your opinion about this debate of changeability? Can human beings change? Can psychotherapy/psychological treatment help such people? Can legal system take some steps to help such people change? Because if you start thinking; you are on your way to become a forensic psychologist.
