Fluctuations in self-esteem and paranoia in the context of daily life.
Studies investigating the relationship between self-esteem and paranoia have specifically focused on self-esteem level, but have neglected the dynamic aspects of self-esteem. In the present article, the authors investigated the relationship between self-esteem and paranoia in two different ways. First, 154 individuals ranging across the continuum in level of paranoia were studied with the Experience Sampling Method (a structured self-assessment diary technique) to assess the association between trait paranoia and level and fluctuation of self-esteem in daily life. Results showed that trait paranoia was associated with both lower levels and higher instability of self-esteem. Second, the temporal relationship between momentary (state) paranoia and self-esteem was investigated in the daily life of these individuals. Results showed that a decrease in self-esteem was associated with an immediate increase in paranoia. The findings indicate that paranoid individuals are not only characterized by a lower level of self-esteem but also by more fluctuations in their self-esteem and that fluctuations in self-esteem predict the degree of subsequent paranoia. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that paranoia is associated with dysfunctional strategies of self-esteem regulation.
Thewissen
Viviane
V
Faculty of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, the Netherlands.
Bentall
Richard P
RP
Lecomte
Tania
T
van Os
Jim
J
Myin-Germeys
Inez
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008875:Middle Aged; D012563:Schizophrenia, Paranoid / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires