Study of Life Challenges, Personality, and Emotional Experiences
Indiana University
Summary
Paranoia is a pattern of thinking in which people feel suspicious or believe others may want to harm them. It can occur in many people, not only those with a mental health diagnosis, and it can affect daily life, relationships, and overall well-being. Research has consistently shown that Black Americans report higher levels of paranoia than White Americans, even when they do not have a clinical diagnosis. However, the reasons for this difference are not well understood. The goal of this study is to better understand why these differences exist. In the experimental part of the study, researchers will use a randomized design to test whether exposure to stressful experiences related to race leads to higher levels of paranoia among Black American participants. The study will also examine factors that may strengthen or weaken this effect, such as individual experiences and personal characteristics. By identifying how stressful experiences related to race influence paranoia, this research aims to improve how paranoia is measured and understood across different groups. These findings may help researchers and clinicians use more accurate and culturally appropriate tools to assess psychosis-related experiences in diverse populations.
Description
Paranoia, a core symptom of psychosis, is characterized by beliefs of being threatened, persecuted, or conspiratorially targeted. In contemporary psychological approaches, paranoia is defined as a dimensional and transdiagnostic construct existing on a continuum of severity throughout the population and conferring risk for negative outcomes including impairments in social functioning, well-being, and quality of life. Despite its centrality in understanding the psychosis spectrum, including clinical conditions such as schizophrenia, paranoia is a construct vulnerable to various individual- and…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria * 18 years of age or older * Self-identify as non-Hispanic Black or African American * Currently reside in the United States * Speak and read English * Registered as a survey participant on the Prolific platform Exclusion Criteria * Younger than 18 years of age * Do not self-identify as non-Hispanic Black or African American * Do not currently reside in the United States * Do not speak or read English * Not registered as a survey participant on the Prolific platform
Interventions
- BehavioralGuided Visual Imagery Task
Participants complete an online, audio-guided visual imagery task designed to experimentally prime social experiences under standardized conditions. After brief instructions to imagine themselves actively participating in each scene, participants complete practice trials with neutral content and then are randomized to listen to one audio-recorded scenario matched to their assigned condition. Each trial includes a brief relaxation period, an instruction period, a guided imagery listening period, and a short recovery period. Scenarios are approximately 30 seconds and are delivered via headphones/speakers within the survey platform. Following the imagery task, participants complete post-task self-report assessments capturing current (state) experiences, including state paranoia and manipulation checks (e.g., imagery vividness and task engagement). The task is administered once in a single session.
Location
- Department of Psychological and Brain SciencesBloomington, Indiana