Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 9, 2026

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression
Published on: May 19, 2015
Ethnic identity and paranoid thinking: Implicit out-group preference and language dominance predict paranoia in
Justin Thomas1, Richard P Bentall2, Lowri Hadden2
1Zayed University, United Arab Emirates.
Background And Objectives:
Psychotic experiences including persecutory beliefs are elevated among immigrant and minority populations, especially when living in low ethnic density neighbourhoods (the ethnic density effect). Discrimination, victimization and experiencing a sense of 'not belonging' are hypothesized to play a role in this effect. Because a secure ethnic identity protects against poor self-esteem it may also protect against paranoia. This study explores the relationship between language proficiency (Arabic/English), in-group identity (implicit and explicit) and paranoia in female Emirati university students.
Methods:
Female citizens of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Emirati college women (N = 208), reported English/Arabic language proficiencies, and performed a computerized affective priming task engineered to implicitly assess in-group (Emirati) versus out-group (American) positivity. Participants also completed self-report measures of in-group identity (MIIS), and paranoia (PaDs).
Results:
Arabic proficiency was negatively correlated with paranoia, as was implicit in-group positivity. Furthermore, participants reporting English language dominance, and those demonstrating an implicit out-group preference, reported the highest levels of paranoia.
Limitations:
The study is limited by its use of an all female sample.
Conclusions:
Implicit in-group attitudes and linguistic competence protect against paranoia and may help to explain the ethnic density effect.
More Related Videos
06:42Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
Published on: September 28, 2018
05:03Author Spotlight: Unveiling Mechanisms of Stress Resilience - Significant Findings, Advancements, and Future Research
Published on: December 15, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Surveys
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Social Identity
Stereotype Threat and Self-fulfilling Prophecies
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Horney's Sociocultural Approach