Warning Signs of the Paranoid Personality

These warning signs of the paranoid personality are from the paranoid personality chapter in the book  Dangerous Personalities by retired FBI Special Agent Joe Navarro. I strongly encourage you to read this book if you suspect someone you are dealing with fits this personality or if you want more information on the topic.

Navarro developed his checklists as an FBI Special Agent, not a medical professional. This particular checklist will help you identify warning signs of the paranoid personality and determine if someone has the features of the paranoid personality and where that person falls on a continuum or spectrum (from narrow-minded, argumentative, and rigid to annoyingly suspicious and questioning all the way to highly unstable, volatile, or even dangerous). The checklist was designed to be used in everyday life. It’s not a clinical diagnostic tool.

Read each statement carefully and be honest as you check only statements that apply. If in doubt, leave it out. Some questions are intentionally repetitive, or overlap, to capture nuances of behavior based on how people typically experience or describe these personalities. Completing the entire checklist will increase its reliability.

Warning Signs of the Emotionally Unstable Personality

1. Believes that others seek to exploit or harm him in some way.
2. Is preoccupied with unjustified doubts about the loyalty of others.
3. Is reluctant to trust others – perceives them  as deceitful.
4. Has unwarranted fears that others will use information maliciously against her.
5. Perceives others as demeaning or threatening, no matter how benign their intentions.
6. Holds grudges for a long time and is not forgiving of slights, even after many years.
7. Is very sensitive to how others view him.
8. Has angry reactions to minor slights – seems to always have an ax to grind.
9. Frequently questions fidelity of spouse or lovers without cause.
10. Has a pessimistic view of life or believes she is being persecuted.
11. Habitually questions the intentions of others, including his spouse, intimate relations, family, or workmates.
12. Is suspicious (without need) of people, events, objects, or anything foreign.
13. Is quick to anger or has been described as having a very short fuse.
14. Is jealous with little or no justification.
15. Is distrustful of others, particularly foreigners or minorities.
16. Seems to have a high degree of anxiety in her life.
17. Feels a need to be guarded, secretive, devious, and scheming, or thinks others around him are that way.
18. Is reluctant or unwilling to entertain alternative views; readily dismisses them.
19. Thinks jokes have hidden meanings that are aimed against her.
20. Is unbending in thoughts and ideas – stubbornly holds on to beliefs.
21. Seems to know a lot about very little, arguing arcane information of little interest to anyone else.
22. Thinks he is very logical but in fact his logic is at times faulty or skewed.
23. Argues frequently or provokes arguments with regularity.
24. Exaggerates and personalizes difficulties.
25. Sees herself as a victim of one or more of these things: life, society, government, family, workers, conspiracies, cabals, etc.
26. Intentionally collects and hangs on to social slights, incidents of forgetfulness, or wrongs.
27. Has a reputation for making a mountain out of a molehill, always thinking the worst, or blowing things way out of proportion.
28. Has an inability to relax and seems constantly guarded, almost always serious, lacking in humor.
29. Lacks tender passion or softness; everything is tension producing and threatening.
30. Is constantly hostile, stubborn, or defensive.
31. Is envious of power and seeks to achieve it through shortcuts, cheating, or illegal schemes.
32. Is incapable of having anything nice to say about others.
33. Is reluctant to confide in others or reveal things about herself.
34. Space is a big issue – doesn’t like it if you get or stand too close.
35. Doesn’t like it when people look at his house or his car and tends to lash out at them.
36. Communications all too often are full of anger or hatred toward authority figures.
37. Even at a great distance, has the same reaction as you might if someone stood too close to you.
38. Wears or displays ornaments, tattoos, signs, or other emblems (e.g. bumper stickers) that indicate hatred or fear of others.
39. Seems to be always guarded as to what she is doing or contemplating.
40. Has very few friends or none at all.
41. Constantly looks for signs that others are conspiring or planning something against him.
42. Acts, behaves, or is referred to as being eccentric or odd.
43. Feels that institutions (government, IRS, work, church, school, employer) are seeking to do him ill or keep him down.
44. Claims that past failing at work or in relationships have been the fault of others.
45. Claims to have perfect recall of events and uses them to argue – yet those recollections are often faulty or biased.
46. Thoughts, beliefs, and prejudices are rigid and inflexible – becomes truculent when challenged.
47. Has belonged or currently belongs to a hate group or to an organization that is intolerant of others.
48. Criticizes the promotion of others at work as being the work of a cabal or a conspiracy or done to perpetually punish or keep him down.
49. Has a pervasive suspiciousness of others – even of those she knows.
50. Is excessively self-important or believes he is infallible.
51. Has found ways to isolate from others, be it at school, at work, or even in a big city – is considered a loner.
52. Strongly believes that others will eventually disappoint or take advantage of him, and so he is always guarded.
53. Even when others are kind, suspects that in time their “true face” or feelings will show.
54. Refuses to let children attend school – fears they will be adversely influenced or “polluted.”
55. Seems to have an unrelenting level of anxiety or apprehension in her life.
56. Tries to control what others think.
57. Has a generalized anxious feeling of pending doom, or destruction, or that some sort of harm will come.
58. Seems to view the world in general as being untrustworthy – full of deceit.
59. Avoids going to the doctor because of distrust of physicians, medical equipment, or the medical profession in general.
60. Is intolerant of others’s opinions.
61. Spouse or family is concerned when he goes out because they never know if he will argue or cause a scene.
62. Has repeatedly gotten into arguments with superiors.
63. Feels that the school, school system, or teacher(s) has it in for him or his children.
64. Seems to have little respect for superiors and thinks of herself as better than they are.
65. Brings up different events from history to point out how things are conspiring against her or others.
66. Prefers that others stand at a greater than normal distance when they talk to him, and if they violate that space,, gets very anxious, irritable, or angry.
67. Has purchased a weapon or keeps a weapon nearby because he fears someone or a group is coming after him.
68. Has had multiple run-ins with the law.
69. Is distrustful of strangers even when seeking them out.
70. Literally rates people by how trustworthy they are.
71. Has a fear of institutions, technology, scientists, food, or some other unspecified entity or organization.
72. Collects articles, clippings, pictures, or license plate numbers of or about individuals or institutions that are conspiring against her or that she distrusts.
73. Is a known user of cocaine, amphetamine, “speed,” or methamphetamine.
74. Thinks telephone calls are intercepted or the room is bugged with microphones.
75. Feels that doctors do more harm than good or distrusts modern medicine or pharmaceutical companies.
76. Believes himself to be above the law or a “sovereign citizen” and that he doesn’t have to pay taxes or even have a driver’s license or license plate to drive.
77. Has a need to control family members very strictly.
78. Goes into a fit of rage when people accidentally trespass on his property.
79. Routinely sticks nose into other people’s business, especially of family members.
80. Seeks to control the opinions of others, insisting they see things her way.
81. Often has an unrelenting one-track mind about this or that issue.
82. Has threatened a spouse or significant other for revealing personal information about him.
83. Conducts what he calls “emergency,” “immediate reaction,” or “bug out” drills as preparation for dealing with threats, the “end days,” or some other apocalyptic event.
84. Forbids family members to talk to outsiders, even the mail carrier.
85. Gets upset when family members spend too much time talking to friends on the phone.
86. Has obtained a weapon or made an explosive device to punish or get back at others.
87. Is highly moralistic and judgmental.
88. When spouse or kids come home, they are questioned as to where they’ve been and about their activities and are required to provide a full accounting of their activities.
89. Cell phones of family members are routinely examined to see telephone activity.
90. Has staled or placed a tracking device on the spouse’s vehicle.
91. Has called (redialed) numbers or made queries to determine who has called and the purpose of the calls.
92. Refuses to give family members access to cell phones, computers, or other electronic devices so that they cannot communicate with outsiders or to avoid “evil” influences.
93. Becomes very upset when you challenge or ridicule her ideas, thinking, logic, or examples.
94. Has called others fools and naive for not seeing the threats that he sees.
95. Has curbed or restricted the activities of family members (spouse, children) so as not to be influenced by outsiders, disbelievers, or those who think differently.
96. Only she has a clear understanding of the threats that are out there.
97. Tends to be demanding and arrogant.
98. Has been fired for arguing with workmates or boss.
99. Is highly moralistic and sees the world as white or black – there is no gray area, no flexibility in thinking.
100. Tends to be unromantic, lacking tenderness or empathy in his interpersonal relations.
101. Has been taken advantage of by someone who purportedly believes similarly.
102. Is inconsiderate of others or is considered rude.
103. Fears that physicians will use his body for experiments or implant his body with some sort of device.
104. Continually pursues reinforcement of beliefs or fears through reading, radio, Internet, or other means.
105. Spouse or loved ones often have to act as buffers with others or have to apologize for his actions or behaviors.
106. Has talked in ways to frighten others repeatedly or to make others fear for their safety.
107. Has killed or tried to poison dogs or cats that have accidentally crossed onto his property.
108. Frequently complains to city officials about minor grievances.
109. Perceives people in social and personal relationships to be either with him or against him.
110. Has alienated at least one family member because of her beliefs or because of unrelenting need to argue, accuse, or challenge.
111. Writes letters, e-mails, or other forms of communication that are always attacking something.
112. Thinks helicopters or airplanes are following her.
113. Seeks to find other individuals who are also suspicious and distrustful.
114. Has expressed that he “trusts no one” but himself.
115. Doesn’t like people standing behind her – this causes her to become irritable, nervous, or visibly uncomfortable.
116. Prefers only the company of those who agree with his odd, peculiar, extremist, or eccentric ideas.
117. Never seems to be happy – all too often is on edge or irritated.
118. Has the appearance of someone who is always troubled by something.
119. Keeps a secret place in the house or at work where no one is allowed.
120. Has talked about or actually moved out into the country, away from others, expressing mistrust about having people close by.
121. Has joined or looked into a group, organization, or cult that believes as he does.
122. Lacks any interest in art or music except in what supports her thinking.
123. Routinely drills with weapons to make sure he is ready to deal with any threat.
124. When he hears or sees vehicles, he hurries to examine them or even keeps a list of cars he routinely sees that he claims are conducting surveillance.
125. Actually keeps a list of enemies or those she deems suspicious.
126. Has gone out at night or at odd times to conduct reconnaissance to check on neighbors or someone he deems suspicious or a threat.
127. Seems to be unsettled, always on the move; can’t hold a job for very long.
128. Has a constant looming fear of a major catastrophic or apocalyptic event.
129. Is known to others as a complainer, instigator, or malcontent.
130. Has been rejected by others for being odd, eccentric, or stubborn.

Scoring

• Count how many statements apply to this individual based on the criteria discussed at the beginning of this checklist.
• If you find that this individual has 20 to 25 of these features, this is a person who will occasionally take an emotional toll on others and may be difficult to live or work with.
• If the score is 26 to 60, this indicates that the individual has all the features of and behaves as a paranoid personality. This person needs help and will cause turmoil in the life of anyone close to him or her.
• If the score is above 60, this person has a preponderance of the major features of a paranoid personality and is an emotional, psychological, financial, or physical danger to you or others, even to him- or herself.

Immediate Actions

If you’re involved with an individual like this who meets the preponderance of the criteria for a paranoid personality, you have a tough road ahead. When the features of such individuals are mild, they will wear on you because they question everything and are suspicious and untrusting of others, including you. Over time, they can become even more suspicious, more stubborn, more single-minded, and more rigid in their thinking. That is a challenge for any long-term relationship or for a family.

If they’re at the more extreme or toxic end of the spectrum, they can be very difficult, argumentative, hypersuspicious, or just plain dangerous. The problem is, no one can predict their reactions nor what will trigger rage or violence on their part. What we do know is that the more features of paranoia they have, the greater their instability and danger. And, of course, they can become radicalized extremists, bringing danger to others and themselves, much as “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski did.

Trying to convince, persuade, or argue with them is usually nonproductive and, in fact, may backfire, as you may be seen as the enemy for disagreeing with them or not seeing things with their unique or special clarity.

Trying to get them professional help may not be easy, either. No matter where they are on the spectrum, low or high, they don’t think anything is wrong with them, which is why these individuals rarely seek help. That alone is a tough or an impossible hurdle to overcome.

You can try to get them some professional help, if they’ll go, but please be very careful. Because these personalities are suspicious of others and are perennial wound collectors, your efforts may turn them against you, making them more suspicious of you or propelling them to violence.

At work, these individuals may be aggravating because they question everything. They can create problems among colleagues and drive wedges in an otherwise collegial work environment. Frankly, most bosses get tired of having to explain or justify decisions or hear their complaints, so they marginalize them.

There’s no doubt that having a paranoid personality in the workplace is a liability; not just from the divisiveness they sow but also because of how they may lash out at perceived slights. Individuals who score high on the paranoid personality checklist need to be monitored for signs of aggression, especially if they’re reprimanded, cautioned, or demoted, but particularly if they’re fired.

In situations where the spouse of an employee has all the features of the paranoid personality, there’s also the danger that a domestic dispute, jealousy, or paranoid ideation may expose people at work to danger that had origins at home. When I read about an ex-husband coming to his ex-wife’s workplace to shoot her and everyone else in sight, I have to wonder, yet again, if this was the work of an acutely troubled paranoid personality.

If you are in an industry against which activists have made threats or that has been targeted by extremists (abortion clinic, medical research, chemical industry, animal research, timber industry, construction, atomic energy, coal production, electrical grid, plastics, to name a few), you may become the focus of a paranoid personality; thus the potential for danger or violence is much higher.

Care needs to be taken when dealing with the paranoid personality at home or at work, especially if there are indications that the individual has a history of violence or weapons use. Since we can’t predict what will trigger someone’s violent behavior, all we can do is look at past behaviors, where they reside on the Dangerous Personalities Checklist, if there have been recent stressors (divorce, relationship breakup, demotions, job loss, increased drug or alcohol use, etc.), and the presence of weapons in the person’s life. If these things are all present, it makes for a very dangerous mixture. Just remember the story of Jimmy Lee Dykes mentioned earlier – his neighbors’ experiences, the killing of a bus driver, the abduction of a child from a school bus, barricading himself with the child in his bunker – all because this paranoid personality received a summons.

While history is replete with examples of those who fit the criteria of the paranoid personality who did great harm, most of the harm these individuals do is on an interpersonal level at home or at work. Nevertheless, we have a responsibility to warn others if we have confirmed that this person has a majority of the features of a paranoid personality – we may just spare them a lot of pain and agony.

If you encounter these individuals, recognize what they are first and foremost. Don’t try to argue with or convince them. If they appear dangerous in any way, or if they ask you to assist in committing dangerous or criminal acts, the best action is to get away and warn others if possible.

If their behavior becomes too much for you to bear – if it’s too taxing or too dehumanizing (this happens a lot in cults) or if they drain the happiness out of your life – then distance yourself. You don’t have to suffer needlessly. If you decide to stay, you now have been forewarned of what you can expect, so don’t be surprised if things don’t get better. Don’t end up like the wife of Colonel Frank Fitts in the movie American Beauty or, for that matter, like my neighbor’s wife in Miami: empty, resigned, joyless.

But be careful, because if these individuals self-isolate, isolate you, become convinced that there are no alternatives left, or become radicalized, they can become extremely violent.

I encourage you to read Dangerous Personalities by Joe Navarro for more advice on how to deal with this kind of person in your life.