Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Jealousy is common in women, grandiosity paranoia in men”

In addition to seeing themselves as special and superior, they feel that the world revolves around them… Individuals with grandiosity paranoia see themselves as saviors, developing absurd ideas and gathering many followers. Highlighting the difference between paranoid personality disorder and paranoid tendencies, Tarhan stated that jealousy paranoia is common in women, while grandiosity paranoia is prevalent in men.

Uskudar University Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan evaluated Paranoid Personality Disorder.

‘Those who look for a calf under an ox’ are individuals with paranoid personality disorder…

Prof. Dr. Tarhan, pointing to Cluster B personality disorders characterized by a lack of empathy, said, “One of the four personality disorders in this group is paranoid personality disorder. In addition, individuals with narcissistic, paranoid, histrionic, and obsessive personality disorders are weak in terms of empathy. Paranoid personality disorder is one of the most common disorders in this group. There are types of people who ‘look for a calf under an ox’; these are usually individuals with paranoid personality disorder. They make life difficult for their loved ones. However, they also give everything to those who completely surrender to them; they have such a personality structure. These individuals with a paranoid mindset evaluate every event on a friend-or-foe basis. Is this my friend or not? Are they with me or against me? They take every event this way. If you don't obey them or approve of them, they put you in the enemy category or see you as suspicious individuals. Such people constantly question trust because they generally do not trust others much.”

They can be excellent intelligence officers or prosecutors… 

Prof. Dr. Tarhan also noted that these individuals, who establish a meaningful connection between every event, are suspicious, distrustful, sensitive, and vengeful, stating, “They are also secretive and don't talk much; it's hard to get words out of them. Therefore, they rarely engage in free discussions and do not participate in relaxed debate environments. They always associate with people who ask the questions they want. They are not open to free intellectual discussions. They get angry easily and are jealous. Thanks to these characteristics, they can become very good intelligence officers or prosecutors and be very successful in these professions. However, this personality structure is extremely difficult at home. Living with such a person is truly challenging. You always have to prove yourself and be constantly on alert; no one can be relaxed and at ease in their presence. They are always tense. They are very fond of honor and loyalty, and they attach great importance to praise and honor. They see everything in black and white, like friend or foe. Most people who believe in conspiracy theories are these individuals. They narrate conspiracy theories everywhere as if they are true, and behind most of them lies paranoid personality disorder.”

Individuals with paranoid tendencies constitute 10-15 percent of society

Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that paranoid personality disorder is seen in 1-2 percent of society, adding, “However, individuals with a paranoid mindset personality structure, who do not have a personality disorder but have paranoid tendencies, constitute 10-15 percent of society. These individuals are convinced when presented with evidence and do not persist in their mistakes. However, individuals with paranoid personality disorder do not change their minds even when presented with evidence and do not believe in counter-evidence. There is no need to fear paranoid individuals who are open to self-change and criticism. Because these individuals can develop themselves.”

There are 12 main personality structures

Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that there are 12 main personality structures in society, 30-40% of which are genetically inherited, and said, “60-70% are shaped according to the expectations of culture, society, family, and the individual's own choices. Therefore, it is important to know that innate personality structure is not fixed. If an individual can self-criticize and is open to external criticism, they can correct and develop their personality tendencies. Therefore, one should not say, ‘This is how I am, I won't change.’”

What does paranoiac mean?

Prof. Dr. Tarhan noted that a paranoiac is a form of paranoid personality disorder that has reached the level of delusion or hallucination, stating, “These individuals have a systematic delusion, and within this delusion, they position everyone in a specific way. They are usually at the center of the delusion, and their feelings of grandiosity are quite high. They see themselves as special and superior, feel as if the world revolves around them, and attribute every event to external causes. For example, due to their inherent suspiciousness, when someone doesn't show trust, they immediately conclude, ‘This person doesn't trust me,’ and they try to bind others to themselves in this way by projecting this distrust outwards. They thus spread distrust to the people they live with.”

Individuals with grandiosity paranoia see themselves as saviors

Prof. Dr. Tarhan, stating that this condition is known as "shared paranoia," continued:

“For instance, when a young person in a household develops a systematic delusion, they can spread this paranoia to the people around them. Paranoid individuals are not considered mentally ill because they do not see themselves as sick. Individuals with jealousy paranoia excessively envy their spouses and may act with the mindset of ‘you're mine or you're dead.’ Other types of paranoia include suspiciousness and grandiosity paranoia. Individuals with grandiosity paranoia see themselves as saviors and are firmly attached to these beliefs. These individuals develop ideas that seem logical but are actually absurd, and they gather many followers with these ideas. Such groups are known as ‘destructive cults.’ These groups have their own hierarchies, terminologies, and symbols. There is a human tendency to believe in the sacred, and these individuals use this tendency to sacralize themselves. In this process, group members feel better, and the group continues its activities in an illegal or destructive manner.”

More or less, everyone has it…

“Everyone has more or less paranoid personality traits. They are suspicious and question, then understand the situation. This personality trait is common,” said Prof. Dr. Tarhan, adding, “Paranoid individuals are suspicious and do not immediately trust people, especially common among those who have experienced a lot of betrayal. Interestingly, because these individuals trust no one, they even question those who trust them, and by offending and alienating them, they invite betrayal. Afterward, they think their surroundings are full of traitors, but they are unaware that they themselves caused this situation.”

Prof. Dr. Tarhan explained that if these individuals are open to criticism, they are described as having a paranoid personality, but if they are closed to criticism, they are classified as having paranoid personality disorder. He said, “If they have power or money, they create their own authority and systems. For example, Hitler exhibited both paranoid and narcissistic traits. Stalin, on the other hand, was a complete paranoiac. Paranoid leaders govern by instilling fear in people.” 

If they are well-intentioned, they can correct themselves...

Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that upbringing can also cause the development of paranoid personality, saying, “These characteristics are more common in individuals who have experienced childhood traumas. People who were pushed around and humiliated in their childhood begin to distrust everyone. They believe they cannot survive if they trust anyone other than themselves. Historically, Genghis Khan is known to have been severely mistreated in his childhood and was therefore paranoid. This paranoid personality made him a ruthless leader. Childhood traumas, such as the killing of his sibling or family, caused him to survive despite his young age. Democracy is essentially a regime that emerged to neutralize these paranoid individuals. These individuals are generally very hardworking and idealistic. When faced with criticism, they can see the truth and, if well-intentioned, can correct themselves.”  

Common among fanatical sports supporters… 

Prof. Dr. Tarhan explained that individuals with paranoid personality traits can experience outbursts of anger and even talk about going to court for simple reasons, saying, “Commitment and loyalty are very important to them, and they usually live with the anxiety of not gaining trust. These individuals are very interested in metaphysical topics, such as UFOs. They cannot handle criticism and make comments that annoy others but are correct. They are very good at noticing details and are inquisitive, which is why they have few close friends. They generally see events as a battle between good and evil and never forget it when they are treated badly. They immediately discard people for a minor mistake and have no tolerance for criticism. They protect the person they love at all costs. Paranoid personality traits are common among fanatical sports supporters. These individuals are masters at establishing connections between events and can be very successful in intelligence work.” 

They don't know how to forgive…

Prof. Dr. Tarhan noted that paranoid individuals lack a sense of humor and do not know how to forgive, stating, “They see revenge as a right and act with a defensive attitude in every situation. They are very interested in weapons and security issues and conduct research on these topics. Establishing a trusting relationship with them is not easy, but when well-intentioned and transparent relationships are formed, over time, they may respect these individuals even if they don't love them.”

Do not lie to these individuals, even as a joke!

Prof. Dr. Tarhan also stated that individuals with paranoid personality traits are generally successful at finding hidden truths and making predictions, and he explained what needs to be considered to establish a healthy relationship with them:

 “There are some important points to consider for establishing a healthy relationship with these individuals. It is very important not to lie to paranoid individuals, even as a joke. Lying will cause you to completely lose their trust, and this situation will constantly confront you. It is not necessary to try to prove yourself or your loyalty. If you adopt a clear and straightforward attitude like, ‘This is how I am, don't try to change me,’ they will respect you and not try to change you. When you get angry with paranoid individuals, their paranoia increases further. If you respond to anger with anger, the relationship worsens. Therefore, it is important to express your thoughts calmly and persuasively. It is necessary to be natural and honest in your relationship with them. Lying to someone with a paranoid personality structure, even as a joke, causes trust to be lost. It is important to communicate respectfully by stating that you respect their thoughts but do not agree with them. In such situations, after stating your reasons, it is best to calmly leave the environment.”

 Jealousy in women, grandiosity in men…

Tarhan explained that individuals with paranoid personality disorder usually do not come to the doctor considering themselves ill; rather, their spouses or relatives seek help by complaining about them, and he continued:

“Jealousy paranoia is more common in women, while grandiosity paranoia is more prevalent in men. In such cases, therapists ask the spouse to also participate in therapy. If the spouse says the paranoid individual will not come, therapists encourage them to invite them by reminding them of their responsibility. Spouses are sometimes given tests to raise awareness, and these tests encourage the individual to reflect on themselves. Establishing an open, transparent, and honest dialogue with paranoid individuals is important. If there is love and good intention within the family, such dialogues can lead to solutions. Individuals with a paranoid personality structure can be loyal and self-sacrificing towards their loved ones. Furthermore, they can come up with inventive and brilliant ideas, which can turn their characteristics into opportunities.”

Dealing with advanced stages is difficult!

However, Tarhan also pointed out that dealing with individuals with advanced paranoid disorder can be challenging, stating, “A man with jealousy paranoia might wake his wife up in the middle of the night and ask who she saw in her dream. In such situations, the paranoid individual can see even the smallest sign as evidence. Therefore, honesty and openness are essential when establishing relationships with paranoid individuals.”

If there's a genetic predisposition, long-term medication use may be necessary

Prof. Dr. Tarhan drew attention to the excessive activity of the dopamine gene in the brains of individuals with jealousy paranoia, stating, “This gene regulates dopamine levels, and when it works excessively, suspiciousness increases. When anti-dopamine medications are used, suspiciousness decreases. In some treated cases, there are even those who say their spouses' personalities have completely changed. These individuals are constantly questioning, overly focused on details, and check everything when they come home. However, if they accept treatment, the chance of improvement is high. If they do not accept treatment, compulsory hospitalization may be necessary. If there is a genetic predisposition, they may need to use medication for a long time. Under stress, the brains of these individuals produce faulty proteins, which disrupts the serotonin and dopamine balance and increases suspiciousness. However, this condition can improve with treatment. Although it may be difficult to persuade them to undergo treatment, the likelihood of achieving results is high, and they should not be considered untreatable.”