Attitudes toward ambiguity and paranoia

ツダ, ヒサミツ

Tsuda, Hisamitsu

オオサカ ダイガク ダイガクイン ニンゲン カガク ケンキュウカ タイジン シャカイ シンリガク ケンキュウシツ

関係念慮

自己関係づけ

曖昧さへの態度

曖昧さへの非耐性

delusion

ideas of reference

self-reference

attitudes towards ambiguity

intolerance of ambiguity

Previous researches suggest that intolerance of ambiguity is a predisposing factor for paranoia. Although both negative and positive attitudes toward ambiguity exist, negative attitudes have been the focus of previously featured studies. Therefore, it is time to clarify the relationship between paranoia and positive attitudes toward ambiguity. This study investigated 197 university students regarding what attitude might be a predisposing factor for paranoia. Paranoid self-reference (typically seen in youth) was used as a proxy measure for paranoia. Attitudes toward ambiguity were measured by 5 aspects "enjoyment of ambiguity," "reception of ambiguity," "anxiety toward ambiguity" "control of ambiguity" and "exclusion of ambiguity." The result of structural equation modeling indicated that anxiety toward ambiguous situations (i.e., "anxiety toward ambiguity") and trying to control ambiguity by gathering information ("control of ambiguity") were related to frequent or strong paranoia. This result supported previous researches claiming that negative attitude toward ambiguity is one of the predisposing factors for paranoia.