INTRODUCTION

An attempt at a vivid account of the idea, and implications of this idea, are expressed in the podcast I attached at the end of this post. It is very much worth listening to, to fully understand the points I am making. The podcast expresses a rational case for how these thought problems would slowly manifest naturally as the schizophrenic child grows older. It is essentially a thought experiment.

Grandiosity and paranoia are two frames of mind that are considered delusional in schizophrenic and bipolar individuals. Do they just arbitrarily have delusions based on genetic predisposition? Or perhaps the genetic predisposition is less directly related to the resulting behaviors, namely paranoia and grandiosity, which is the focus of this post.

Why are schizophrenic and bipolar individuals prone to paranoia and grandiosity? In schizophrenia, a common early manifestation of the disorder is social isolation. Some of the disorder could be based on social factors. For example, stigma clearly has negative effects, even in those without mental disorder.

Grandiosity and paranoia may be two sides of the same coin. A split in the perception of one’s own intelligence. For example, one who is thinking things very associatively, noticing patterns of events, finding perceivable correlations.

If you are processing highly theoretical and abstract associative ideas such as conspiracy or anything similar, then you will face a problem when empathizing. The overarching issue with thinking differently, is that when we empathize, we generally relate and assume that others are similar to us. But you may also assume differences and try to compensate for such.

GRANDIOSITY

Difference, or beneath.

Grandiosity is the notion that you are superior to others around you.

We can assume others are not like us, that they actually aren’t using an apparently simple façade, and that they are expressing their true selves. Then we will assume that the lack of complexity is because they are stupid. This is grandiosity.

PARANOIA

Similarity, or above.

Paranoia is the notion that others may think similarly complex as the self.

We can assume others are like us, that they think theoretically, abstractly, deeply, too deeply to a fault. Then people’s simple behaviors, and outward appearance can appear like a façade. Then, these schizophrenics might develop a social façade too. This is applicable to non-schizophrenics too tho. It’s just an exaggeration with schizophrenics. Trying to decipher other people’s hidden lives, beneath the façade, is paranoia.

THE PODCAST

In the podcast posted below, I describe in vivid depth, the nature of paranoia and grandiosity. Most viewers should be able to rationally empathize with people in states such as psychosis and mania.

The image mentioned at around the 8:40 is the cover photo for the track!