Keeley, Christopher C; (2002) Self representation in two types of paranoia. Doctoral thesis (D.Clin.Psy), UCL (University College London).

Preview

Text Self_representation_in_two_typ.pdf Download (6MB) | Preview

Abstract

This study compared subjects who had 'poor me' (PM) and 'bad me' (BM) paranoia. The first part aimed to determine if Ss with PM and BM paranoia had distinctly different parenting experiences, purported to be associated with anaclitic (dependent) and introjective (self-critical) kinds of depression respectively. It was therefore an attempt to indirectly test proposal that PM is a defense against anaclitic depression and BM a defense against introjective depression (Trower & Chadwick, 1985). The second part explored how the personal constructs for the two kinds of paranoia were different. It focussed on the possibility that the structure of personal construct systems for the PM and BM groups, would reflect perceptual defensive styles of repression and sensitisation respectively. Following screening for formal thought disorder and adequate literacy levels, 19 Ss suffering from paranoid delusions. Two measures of type of paranoia were used, the first a categorical measure (PM and BM) and the second a dimensional measure of paranoid attributional style (Plausible Scenarios Questionnaire). Ss completed a self- report measure of parenting experiences (Parental Bonding Instrument PBI) and a measure of personal constructs Structural measures, which had previously been found to be associated with repression and sensitisation, were derived from the grids. No difference was found between PM and BM groups (using either classification) on the PBI for levels of care or overprotection, except that PM (attributions) reported significantly higher maternal overprotection, although this no longer held after controlling for thought disorder. The structural measures derived from participants' rep. grids showed none of the expected differences. The results do not support the proposal that PM and BM paranoia are defenses against anaclitic and introjective depression, but the parental antecedents for these kinds of depression may still be poorly understood.

Download activity - last month

Export as JSONCSVXML

Download activity - last 12 months

Export as XMLJSONCSV

Downloads by country - last 12 months

Export as XMLJSONCSV

Archive Staff Only

View Item