Keyword: suspicion

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The Human Need to Be Deceived December 23, 2008

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Emotions & Inner Life, The Mind & Neuroscience

Why do we want to be lied to? Armand DiMele uses the Bernie Madoff scandal as a jumping-off point to argue that humans are wired for deception, both giving and receiving it. Drawing on primate research and brain science, he explores the fine line between healthy trust and paranoid suspicion.

The Many Faces of Paranoia April 10, 2008

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Anxiety & Fear, Emotions & Inner Life

Paranoia is far more common than most people realize, and Armand DiMele breaks down its full spectrum, from ordinary vigilance to persecutory delusions to ambitious paranoia, the flip side where sufferers believe they have a divine mission or special power. Callers share their own experiences, including one dealing with a paranoid mother.

The Psychology of Chronic Doubt January 4, 2006

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Anxiety & Fear, Identity & The Self

Chronic doubters are not simply paranoid but deeply afraid of being left alone and unprotected. Armand DiMele traces this pattern to early childhood, specifically to absent or undermining father figures, and explains why doubters simultaneously crave loyalty and resist intimacy.