Unpleasant and pleasant referential thinking: Relations with self-processing, paranoia, and other schizotypal traits

Abstract

Referential thinking is the tendency to view innocuous stimuli as having a specific meaning for the self and is associated with personality traits and disorders. In three studies, this research examined the relations among referential thinking, self-processing, and paranoia. In study 1, follow-up questions on the Referential Thinking Scale (Lenzenweger, Bennett, & Lilenfeld, 1997) revealed that referential thoughts are experienced as unpleasant and pleasant. In Study 2, unpleasant referential thinking was more strongly associated with paranoia and maladaptive self-processing and personality. CFAs in Study 1 and 2 found that unpleasant and pleasant referential thinking loaded on different factors. In Study 3, a group of participants with elevated schizotypal personality reported more unpleasant and pleasant referential thoughts than a control group.

Subtypes of Psychotic-Like Experiences and Their Significance for Mental Health

“…In a sample of university students, it was found that ideas of reference positively predicted subjective well-being, (e.g., standard of living, community-connectedness), when adjusted for co-occurring PLE, negative-and disorganized-like symptoms [51]. Notably, this finding was in line with suggestions that ideas of reference (in contrast with paranoia) must not necessarily be burdensome [52,53].…”

Kretschmer revisitado: Fatiga mental e ideas de referencia. Contribuciones desde la Teoría de la Sensibilidad al Refuerzo

“…This relationship of the IR with SP, especially, and also with SR, has been observed in other studies (Senín-Calderon et al, 2014). This was interpreted, respectively, in the sense of negative content of most of the IR, without its being exempt from a positive connotation for some of them (Cicero, & Kerns, 2011;Rodríguez-Testal et al, 2013). In any case, both sensitivities are motivational, because of the importance of social activity to the human being.…”

“…Even though the conditions as mediator variable for CFQ-C and CFQ-S were not met, its relationship with the IR was similar to SP. However, this relationship of SR and IR (and thus possible appetitive stimuli) (Cicero, & Kerns, 2011;King & Hicks, 2009;Rodríguez-Testal et al, 2013;Senín et al, 2014), may be too heterogeneous, depending on the context and psychopathological conditions (e.g., IR may be evaluated as desirable for patients with certain personality disorders) (Rodríguez-Testal et al, 2013;Senín-Calderon et al, 2014). This result could also be explained by a stronger association of SR with impulsivity (Sava & Sperneac, 2006), and therefore, processes that differ from self-focused attention, more characteristic of the IR.…”

“…It is also recognized that IR are stronger in emotional overload, in new and uncertain situations, and in certain stages de- Rodríguez-Testal, Perona-Garcelán, Senín-Calderón, García-Jiménez, Álvarez-García and Núñez-Gaitán fi ned by personal change (such as adolescence), and particularly, in psychopathological states (Cicero & Kerns, 2011;Mojtabai, 2006;Senín-Calderón, Rodríguez-Testal, & Perona-Garcelán, 2014). IR may be found in various clinical diagnoses, particularly in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, personality disorders, or mood state disorder diagnostic classes.…”

Saliencia Aberrante y Componentes del Modelo de Gray en el Desarrollo de la Sintomatología Positiva

“…No obstante, la mediación es parcial, por lo que la SC y la SR no serían suficientes para explicar el efecto total del modelo de mediación. Diversos autores defienden la influencia de otros factores, los cuales no han sido tenidos en cuenta en este estudio, en el desarrollo o mantenimiento de las IRs, como pueden ser la depresión, la ansiedad, la conciencia pública de uno mismo, o la autoestima, entre otros (Cicero y Kerns, 2011;Senín-Calderón et al, 2017).…”