Theory Ii: beyond Wish and Defense Class 6 Paranoia

[There is] a pervasive and unwarranted tendency ... to interpret the actions of others as deliberately demeaning or threatening ... Almost invariably there is a general expectation of being exploited or harmed by others in some way. Frequently a person with this disorder will question, without justification, the loyalty or trustworthiness of friends or associates. Often the person is pathologically jealous, questioning without justification the fidelity of his or her spouse or sexual partner ... Confronted with a new situation, the person may read hidden demeaning or threatening meanings into benign remarks or events, e.g., suspect that a bank has deliberately made a mistake in his account. Often these people are easily slighted and quick to react with anger or counterattack; they may bear grudges for a long time, and never forgive slights, insults, or injuries. They are reluctant to confide in others because of a fear that the information will be used against them. People with this disorder ... tend to avoid blame even when it is warranted ... Though they are critical of others ... they have great difficulty accepting criticism of themselves ... These people ... display an excessive need to be self-sufficient, to the point of egocentricity and exaggerated self-importance ... they are keenly aware of power and rank and of who is superior or inferior, and are often envious and jealous of those in positions of power ... They are suspicious, hypersensitive, moralistic, grandiose, and extrapunitive ... They disdain people they see as weak, soft, sickly, or defective.