Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: "Jealousy is common in women and grandiosity paranoia is common in men"

In addition to seeing themselves as special and superior, they feel that the world revolves around them... People with grandiosity paranoia see themselves as saviors, but they can also develop ideas that are absurd and gather many supporters. Drawing attention to the difference between paranoid personality disorder and paranoid tendency, Tarhan said that jealousy is common in women while grandiosity paranoia is common in men.

President of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan evaluated Paranoid personality disorder.

The types who ‘seek a knot in a bulrush’ are people with paranoid personality disorder...

Pointing to cluster B personality disorder, which lacks a sense of empathy, Prof. Tarhan stated that "One of the four personality disorders in this group is paranoid personality disorder. In addition, people with narcissistic, paranoid, histrionic and obsessive personality disorders are weak in empathy. Paranoid personality disorder is one of the most common disorders in this group. There are types who ‘seek a knot in a bulrush’, usually these are people with paranoid personality disorder. They are people who make life difficult for their relatives. However, they also give everything to those who surrender themselves fully. They have this kind of personality. These people, who have a paranoid mood, evaluate every event on the level of friend-enemy. Is this my friend or not? Is this for me or against me? That is how they take every event. If you do not obey them or approve of them, they will put you in the category of enemies or see you as suspicious people. Such people usually question trust people because they do not trust them very much."

They can be very good intelligence officers or prosecutors...

Noting that these people, who establish a semantic link between each event, are suspicious, insecure, touchy and vindictive, Prof. Tarhan expressed that "They are also secretive and do not talk much, it is difficult to get words out of their mouths. For this reason, they do not engage in free debate and do not participate in comfortable discussion environments. They are always with people who ask the questions they want. They are not open to free discussion of ideas. They are easily angered and jealous. Thanks to these characteristics, they can be very good intelligence officers or prosecutors and they are very successful in these professions. But at home, this personality structure is extremely difficult. Living with someone like that is really challenging. You always have to prove to yourself, and you are constantly on the lookout, no one can be comfortable and loose in their environment. They are always nervous. They are very fond of honor and loyalty, attach great importance to praise and honor. They see everything as black and white, friend and foe. Most of the people who believe in conspiracy theories are these people. They talk about conspiracy theories as if they were facts, and paranoid personality disorder is behind most of them."

People with paranoid tendencies are found in 10-15 percent of the population

Stating that paranoid personality disorder is seen at a rate of 1-2 percent in the society, Prof. Tarhan said that "However, paranoid mood personality structure are found in 10-15 percent of the society in people who do not have personality disorder but have paranoid tendencies. When confronted with evidence, these people are convinced and do not insist on their mistakes. However, people with paranoid personality disorder do not change their minds and do not believe counter-evidence, even when evidence is presented. We should not be afraid of paranoid people who are open to self-change and criticism because these people can improve themselves."

There are 12 main personality structures

Stating that there are 12 main personality structures in society and 30-40 percent of them are genetically transmitted, Prof. Tarhan said that "60-70 percent of them are shaped according to the expectations of the culture, society, family and one's own preferences. Therefore, it is important to know that the innate personality structure is not fixed. If a person is able to be self-critical and open to criticism from the outside, they can correct and improve their personality tendencies. Therefore, we should not say, 'This is how I am, I will not change.'"

What does paranoid mean?

Noting that paranoia is a form of paranoid personality disorder that has reached the level of delusion or delirium, Prof. Tarhan stated that "These people have a systematic delusion and position everyone in a certain way in this delusion. At the center of the delirium are often themselves, and their sense of greatness is quite high. They consider themselves special and superior, they feel as if the world revolves around them, and they attribute every event to external causes. For example, because of their inner skepticism, when someone does not show confidence, they immediately conclude that 'This person does not trust me' and try to connect others to them in this way by projecting this distrust outwardly. In this way, they spread insecurity to the people they live with.”

People with grandiosity paranoia see themselves as saviors

Stating that this situation is known as "shared paranoia", Prof. Tarhan continued his remarks as follows:

"For example, when a young person in a house develops a systematic delusion, they can infect the people around them with this paranoia. Paranoid people are not considered themselves to have mental health issues because they do not see that they have mental health issues. People with jealousy paranoia are extremely jealous of their spouse and may act with the thought that ‘either you will be mine or dead’. Other types of paranoia include skepticism and grandiosity paranoia. People with grandiosity paranoia see themselves as saviors and they are loyal to these beliefs. These people develop ideas that seem logical but are actually absurd, and they gather many followers with these ideas. Such groups are known as 'subversive cults'. These groups have their own hierarchies, terminologies, and symbols. Human nature has a tendency to believe in the sacred, and these people use this tendency to sanctify themselves. In the process, the group members feel better, and the group continues to operate in an illegal or destructive manner."

More or less everyone has it...

Noting that "Everyone has more or less paranoid personality traits. One can be skeptical and questions, then understands the situation. This personality trait is common," Prof. Tarhan stated that “Paranoid personality is skeptical and distrustful immediately, especially among people who are betrayed a lot. Interestingly, since these people do not trust anyone, they even question the trusting person and invite betrayal by offending and pushing them away. Then they think that they are surrounded by traitors, but they do not realize that they are the cause of this situation."

Explaining that these people are described as paranoid personality if they are open to criticism, and paranoid personality disorder if they are closed to criticism, Prof. Tarhan expressed that "If they have power or money, they create their own authority and system. For example, in Hitler, paranoid and narcissistic traits coexist. Stalin, on the other hand, is a paranoid. Paranoid rulers rule by scaring people."

If they have good intentions, they can correct themselves...

Stating that the way of upbringing can also cause the development of paranoid personality, Prof. Tarhan said that "These features are more common in people who have experienced childhood traumas. People who were pushed and humiliated in their childhood begin to distrust anyone. They think that they will not survive if they trust only themselves. It is known in history that Genghis Khan was pushed around a lot in his childhood and therefore was paranoid. This paranoid personality made him a ruthless leader. Events such as childhood traumas, the murder of his sibling or family have caused him to survive despite being young in life. Democracy is a regime designed to neutralize these paranoids. These people are usually very hardworking and idealistic. When faced with criticism, they can see the truth and correct themselves if they have good intentions.”

They are common among fanatical sports fans...

Explaining that people with paranoid personality traits can experience outbursts of anger and talk about going to court even for simple reasons, Prof. Tarhan said that "Commitment and loyalty are very important to them and they usually live with the anxiety of not gaining trust. These people are very interested in metaphysical subjects, such as UFOs. They cannot handle criticism and make comments that annoy others but are true. They have a very good eye for detail and are inquisitive, which is why they have few close friends. They often see things as a battle between good and evil, and they never forget it when they are treated badly. They immediately write people off because of a small mistake and have no tolerance for criticism. They protect the person they love at all costs. Paranoid personality traits are common among fanatical sports fans. These people are adept at making connections between events and can be very successful in intelligence work."

They do not know how to forgive...

Noting that paranoid people do not have a sense of humor and do not know how to forgive, Prof. Tarhan expressed that "They see revenge as a right and act with a sense of defense in every event. They are very interested in weapons and security issues and do research on these issues. It is not easy to build a relationship of trust with them, but when well-intentioned and transparent relationships are established, they can respect these people over time, even if they do not like them."

Do not lie to these people, even if it is a joke!

Stating that people with paranoid personality traits are generally successful in finding hidden facts and making predictions, Prof. Tarhan explained the things to be considered to establish a healthy relationship with these people as follows:

"There are some important things to consider building a healthy relationship with these people. It is very important not to lie to paranoid people, even if it is a joke. Lying will cause you to completely lose their trust, and this situation will come up constantly. You should not try to prove yourself or prove your loyalty. If you have a clear attitude of 'I am like this, do not try to change me', they will respect you and will not try to change you. When you get angry with paranoid people, their paranoia increases. If you respond to anger with anger, the relationship will only get worse. Therefore, it is important to express your thoughts in calm and persuasive ways. In dealing with them, it is necessary to be natural and act honestly. Lying to someone with a paranoid personality, even if it is a joke, leads to a loss of trust. It's important to communicate respectfully, indicating that you respect but disagree with their opinions. In such cases, it is best to leave the environment calmly after stating your reasons."

Jealousy in women, grandiosity in men...

Explaining that people with paranoid personality disorder often do not come to the doctor as patients themselves, but their spouses or relatives usually complain about them and seek help, Tarhan continued his remarks as follows:

"Paranoia of jealousy is more common in women, and paranoia of grandiosity is more common in men. In such cases, therapists want the partner to participate in the therapy as well. If the spouse tells them that the paranoid person will not come, the therapists will remind them of their responsibility and encourage them to invite them. Spouses are sometimes given tests to raise awareness, and these tests make the person think about himself. It is important to have an open, transparent, and honest dialogue with paranoid people. If there is love and goodwill in the family, such dialogues can lead to a solution. People with a paranoid personality structure can be loyal and self-sacrificing towards their relatives. They can also come up with exploratory and brilliant ideas, which can turn their traits into opportunities."

It is hard to deal with at an advanced level!

However, pointing out that it can be difficult to deal with people with advanced paranoid disorder, Tarhan said that "A man with jealousy paranoia may wake up his wife in the middle of the night and ask who she saw in her dream. In such cases, the paranoid person may see even the slightest sign as evidence. Therefore, honesty and openness are essential when dealing with paranoid people."

If there is a genetic predisposition, long-term drug use may be required

Pointing out that the dopamine gene is overworked in the brain in people with jealousy paranoia, Prof. Tarhan concluded his remarks as follows: "This gene regulates dopamine levels and when it works excessively, skepticism increases. When anti-dopamine drugs are used, skepticism decreases. In some treated cases, there are even those who say that their partner's personality has completely changed. These people are individuals who are constantly questioning, obsessed with details, and controlling everything when they come home. However, there is a good chance of recovery if they accept treatment. If they do not agree to treatment, mandatory hospitalization may be required. If there is a genetic predisposition, they may need to take medications for a long time. Under stress, these people's brains produce faulty proteins, which disrupt the balance of serotonin and dopamine and increase skepticism. However, this condition can improve with treatment. Although it is difficult to persuade them to treatment, they are likely to get results and it should not be thought that they cannot be treated."

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)