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Regardless of their political leaning, have you noticed certain individuals have a proclivity toward certain beliefs that distrust established organizations or individuals? They are distrustful but not paranoid to the point that they are schizophrenics. For example, you can almost predict the beliefs of certain individuals on this forum based on their opinions of other topics. They seem to share a certain pattern of thinking.
-accusing others of being communists or socialists
-distrust of government in general
-foreigners are a threat
-distrust people of races outside of their own
-people of faiths outside of their own
-distrust the medical system
-distrust the pharmaceutical industry
-distrust corporations
-patriotism means defying the government through illegal means if necessary due to distrust of government
-distrust the formal education system particularly colleges and universities
-distrust of "mainstream" media
What is your opinion, do you think this is new psychological personality disorder?
Last edited by azriverfan.; 01-13-2012 at 05:07 PM..
Location: Everybody is going to hurt you, you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for-B Marley
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I think many conspiracy theories come from small truths but most are taken to the extreme and become runaway ridiculous trains. Makes the people look like morons.
Oh god no, the original word for paranoid comes from the ancient Greek word for madness. It's not new in the least.
There is a non-schizophrenic disorder already called paranoid personality disorder that fits those with general paranoia without any other co-morbid disorders. It fits "a pervasive long-standing suspiciousness and generalized mistrust of others."
It fits general conspiracy theorists really well as "They think they are in danger and look for signs and threats of that danger, disregarding any facts."
The unfortunate part is it destroys many lives as it leads to schizoid withdrawal and isolation to the extreme.
Oh god no, the original word for paranoid comes from the ancient Greek word for madness. It's not new in the least.
There is a non-schizophrenic disorder already called paranoid personality disorder that fits those with general paranoia without any other co-morbid disorders.
I'm aware of that disorder but I feel this is different in the sense that the fear or distrust is limited to established organizations. Paranoid personality disorder encompasses a much bigger spectrum. For example, they may not have a distrust of individuals but rather organizations and larger groups.
nothing new here for that kind of mentality. but instead of being confined to just yelling on a street corner or annoying people at the end of the bar they now can find kindred spirits ( or sock puppets ) on the net who support and promote their beliefs.
I'm aware of that disorder but I feel this is different in the sense that the fear or distrust is limited to established organizations. Paranoid personality disorder encompasses a much bigger spectrum.
It's just scope. If people think there is a conspiracy against them, or their ideas, and it involves an official person or story...if they can't trust one it throws all others into suspect. It's an expounding condition called crank magnetism.
Let me add a story. There was a lady down the street from me who thought she was being "pushed out" from her university position because she didn't toe the line. Well, she had started with doing things for nearly a decade that violated university policy due to kooky ideas. They tried to get help for her to keep her position, and involved her family, but she thought they were all conspiring against her. Originally it was a small group, but she thought "they" had gotten to her family...and the only way was the government. Then everything anyone official did was suspect, from 9/11 to shopping cards. She even thought my dog was a CIA agent because he was black, and agents wear dark suits. She would leave laminated signs around about these conspiracies, we have a few. Till she had no one left and eventually killed herself, and her family was left to clean out her place. Rampant paranoia with no real cause.
Call me crazy, but I think anyone who trusts the government has a mental disorder.
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