Journal article

Are "they" out to get me? A social identity model of paranoia

Katharine H Greenaway, S Alexander Haslam, William Bingley

GROUP PROCESSES & INTERGROUP RELATIONS | SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD | Published : 2019

Abstract

This research tests a social identity model of paranoia, building on work showing that identification with social groups is associated with less paranoid thinking. Studies 1 (N = 800) and 2 (N = 779) supported this model, showing that national group identification is associated with lower paranoia. Study 3 (N = 784) added to the literature by probing the mechanisms underlying these relationships, and found that it is through enhanced control and trust that identification is associated with better mental health. Studies 4 (N = 390) and 5 (N = 904) manipulated identification to provide evidence of causality. A minimeta analysis revealed a robust association between national identification and ..

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Grants

Awarded by Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award


Awarded by Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship


Funding Acknowledgements

The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The first author is supported by an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DE160100761) and the second author by an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship (FL110100199).