Ethnic identity and paranoid thinking: Implicit out-group preference and language dominance predict paranoia in Emirati women

- Ethnic identity may play an important role in the development of paranoia.
- In-group language proficiency (Arabic) negatively correlated with paranoia.
- Implicit out-group preference (American) was associated with greater paranoia.

Background and objectivesPsychotic 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.MethodsFemale 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).ResultsArabic 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.LimitationsThe study is limited by its use of an all female sample.ConclusionsImplicit in-group attitudes and linguistic competence protect against paranoia and may help to explain the ethnic density effect.