The politics of paranoia: paranoid positioning and conspiratorial narratives in the surveillance society

Article

Harper, D. 2008. The politics of paranoia: paranoid positioning and conspiratorial narratives in the surveillance society. Surveillance & Society. 5 (1), pp. 1-32. https://doi.org/10.24908/ss.v5i1.3437
AuthorsHarper, D.
Abstract

The notion of paranoia is often implicitly reproduced in the work of surveillance researchers. However, in this article I will argue that this notion needs to be interrogated since current conceptions of paranoia are inherently dualistic: viewing paranoia solely at an individual or intra-psychic level; or, alternatively solely at a societal level. Inevitably, either perspective is limited. Here I will attempt to break down this dichotomy by, firstly, drawing on the notion of discursive positioning to: analyse the cultural discourses which “produce” paranoia; examine how subjects (i.e. individuals, communities, societies etc.) become positioned by others as paranoid; and explore the effects of such positioning. Secondly, I will investigate the discursive positions through which people may position themselves as paranoid and describe some of the effects of such positioning. I conclude by drawing out some implications of a more nuanced view of paranoia for the field of surveillance studies.

Keywordsparanoia; psychology; conceptions; surveillance research; literary examples; panoptical culture; conspiritorial narratives; big brother; conspiracy theories; politics
JournalSurveillance & Society
Journal citation5 (1), pp. 1-32
ISSN1477-7487
Year2008
Publisher Surveillance Studies Network
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Anyone
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.24908/ss.v5i1.3437
Publication dates
Print01 Jan 2008
Publication process dates
Deposited10 Jun 2009
Copyright holder© 2008, The Author
Additional information

Citation:
Harper, D. (2008) 'The politics of paranoia: paranoid positioning and conspiratorial narratives in the surveillance society'. Surveillance & Society, 5 (1) 1–32.

Permalink -

https://repository.uel.ac.uk/item/8659w

Log in to edit

Download files

Publisher's version
The politics of paranoia - paranoid positioning and conspiratorial narratives in the surveillance society.pdf
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
File access level: Anyone

  • 433
    total views
  • 196
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

De-medicalising public mental health with the Power Threat Meaning Framework
Harper, D. 2023. De-medicalising public mental health with the Power Threat Meaning Framework. Perspectives in Public Health. 143 (3), pp. 151-155. https://doi.org/10.1177/17579139231157531
Editorial: Public health and prevention: Part One
Harper, D., Luzon, O. and Wainwright, T. 2022. Editorial: Public health and prevention: Part One. Clinical Psychology Forum. 356, pp. 3-6. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpscpf.2022.1.356.3
Editorial: Public health and prevention: Part Two
Harper, D., Luzon, O. and Wainwright, T. 2022. Editorial: Public health and prevention: Part Two. Clinical Psychology Forum. 357, pp. 3-5. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpscpf.2022.1.357.3
How much are senior UK public health professionals taught about mental health?
Frenken, H. and Harper, D. 2022. How much are senior UK public health professionals taught about mental health? Clinical Psychology Forum. 357, pp. 52-59. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpscpf.2022.1.357.52
Rethinking Paranoia and Distressing and Disruptive Unusual Beliefs
Harper, D. 2022. Rethinking Paranoia and Distressing and Disruptive Unusual Beliefs. in: Maisel, E. and Ruby, C. (ed.) Humane Alternatives to the Psychiatric Model: Volume 2 of The Ethics International Press Critical Psychology and Critical Psychiatry Series Ethics International Press. pp. 116-141
Transforming Chemicals and Drugs into “Medication” and “Treatment”: The power of language
Harper, D. 2022. Transforming Chemicals and Drugs into “Medication” and “Treatment”: The power of language. in: Maisel, E. and Ruby, C. (ed.) Critiquing the Psychiatric Model: Volume 1 of The Ethics International Press Critical Psychology and Critical Psychiatry Series Ethics International Press. pp. 116-132
The Social Construction of Conspiracy Beliefs: A Q-Methodology Study of How Ordinary People DefineThem and Judge Their Plausibility
Daniel, L. and Harper, D. 2022. The Social Construction of Conspiracy Beliefs: A Q-Methodology Study of How Ordinary People DefineThem and Judge Their Plausibility. Journal of Constructivist Psychology. 35 (2), pp. 564-585. https://doi.org/10.1080/10720537.2020.1837695
Covert Aspects of Surveillance and the Ethical Issues They Raise
Harper, D., Ellis, D. and Tucker, I. 2021. Covert Aspects of Surveillance and the Ethical Issues They Raise. in: Iphofen, R. and O’Mathúna, D. (ed.) Ethical Issues in Covert Research, Security and Surveillance Emerald Publishing Limited. pp. 177-197
Afterword: Dr Ewen Cameron’s “de-patterning” experiments and the CIA’s MK-Ultra programme
Harper, D. 2021. Afterword: Dr Ewen Cameron’s “de-patterning” experiments and the CIA’s MK-Ultra programme. in: Casagrande, O. and Page, R. (ed.) The American Way: Stories of Invasion Comma Press. pp. In Press
From the margins to the NICE guidelines: British clinical psychology and the development of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Psychosis between 1982-2002
Harper, D. and Townsend, S. 2021. From the margins to the NICE guidelines: British clinical psychology and the development of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Psychosis between 1982-2002. History of the Human Sciences. 35 (3-4), pp. 260-290. https://doi.org/10.1177/09526951211027738
Realising the Potential of General Population Research to Reconceptualise the study of “Delusions”: From Normalising “Psychosis” to De-Familiarising “Normality”
Harper, D. 2021. Realising the Potential of General Population Research to Reconceptualise the study of “Delusions”: From Normalising “Psychosis” to De-Familiarising “Normality”. Theory & Psychology. 31 (6), pp. 887-911. https://doi.org/10.1177/09593543211000429
Mental Health Prejudice, Discrimination and Epistemic Injustice: Moving beyond Stigma and Biomedical Dominance
Harper, D. and Vakili, K. 2021. Mental Health Prejudice, Discrimination and Epistemic Injustice: Moving beyond Stigma and Biomedical Dominance. in: Tileaga, C., Augoustinos, M. and Durrheim, K. (ed.) Routledge International Handbook of Discrimination, Prejudice, and Stereotyping Routledge.
A “trigger”, a cause or obscured? How trauma and adversity are constructed in psychiatric stress-vulnerability accounts of “psychosis”
Harper, D., O'Donnell, E. and Platts, S. 2020. A “trigger”, a cause or obscured? How trauma and adversity are constructed in psychiatric stress-vulnerability accounts of “psychosis”. Feminism & Psychology. 31 (1), pp. 19-40. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959353520954313
From ‘What’s Wrong with You?’ to ‘What’s Happened to You?’: an Introduction to the Special Issue on the Power Threat Meaning Framework
Harper, D. and Cromby, J. 2020. From ‘What’s Wrong with You?’ to ‘What’s Happened to You?’: an Introduction to the Special Issue on the Power Threat Meaning Framework. Journal of Constructivist Psychology. 35 (1), pp. 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1080/10720537.2020.1773362
Diagnosis, Classification and the Expansion of the Therapeutic Realm
Harper, D. 2020. Diagnosis, Classification and the Expansion of the Therapeutic Realm. in: Moller, N., Vossler, A., Jones, D. and Kaposi, D. (ed.) Understanding Mental Health and Counselling SAGE Publications.
The Power Threat Meaning Framework: Addressing Adversity, Challenging Prejudice and Stigma, and Transforming Services
Read, J. and Harper, D. 2020. The Power Threat Meaning Framework: Addressing Adversity, Challenging Prejudice and Stigma, and Transforming Services. Journal of Constructivist Psychology. 35 (1), pp. 54-67. https://doi.org/10.1080/10720537.2020.1773356
Framing, filtering and hermeneutical injustice in the public conversation about mental health
Harper, D. 2020. Framing, filtering and hermeneutical injustice in the public conversation about mental health. Journal of Constructivist Psychology. 35 (1), pp. 68-82. https://doi.org/10.1080/10720537.2020.1773360
How is paranoia experienced in a student population? A qualitative study of students scoring highly on a paranoia measure
Harper, D. and Timmons, C. 2019. How is paranoia experienced in a student population? A qualitative study of students scoring highly on a paranoia measure. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice. 94 (1), pp. 101-118. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12250
Developing policy-relevant skills in clinical psychology training
Peacock-Brennan, S., Harper, D. and Patel, N. 2018. Developing policy-relevant skills in clinical psychology training. Clinical Psychology Forum. 301, pp. 9-14. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpscpf.2018.1.301.9
How do mental health services respond when child abuse or neglect become known? A literature review
Read, J., Harper, D., Tucker, I. and Kennedy, Angela 2018. How do mental health services respond when child abuse or neglect become known? A literature review. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 27 (6), pp. 1606-1617. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12498
The promise (and potential pitfalls) of a public health approach in clinical psychology
Harper, D. 2017. The promise (and potential pitfalls) of a public health approach in clinical psychology. Clinical Psychology Forum. 297, pp. 23-32. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpscpf.2017.1.297.23
Do adult mental health services identify child abuse and neglect? A systematic review
Read, J., Harper, D., Tucker, I. and Kennedy, Angela 2017. Do adult mental health services identify child abuse and neglect? A systematic review. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 27 (1), pp. 7-19. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12369
"If I were you, I wouldn’t start from here”: Working for real change in societal responses to distress
Harper, D. 2016. "If I were you, I wouldn’t start from here”: Working for real change in societal responses to distress. Context: A Magazine for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice. 147, pp. 7-11.
Beyond individual therapy
Harper, D. 2016. Beyond individual therapy. Psychologist. 29 (6), pp. 440-445.
Experiencing the ‘surveillance society’
Ellis, D., Harper, D. and Tucker, I. 2016. Experiencing the ‘surveillance society’. Psychologist. 29 (9), pp. 682-685.
Communities, psychotherapeutic innovation and the diversity of international qualitative research in mental health
Harper, D. 2016. Communities, psychotherapeutic innovation and the diversity of international qualitative research in mental health. European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling. 18 (4), pp. 401-414. https://doi.org/10.1080/13642537.2016.1260622
A different kind of chemistry? Reformulating 'formulation'
Harper, D. and Moss, Duncan 2003. A different kind of chemistry? Reformulating 'formulation'. Clinical Psychology. 23, pp. 6-10.
Paranoia
Harper, D. and Cromby, J. 2014. Paranoia. in: Teo T. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Critical Psychology Springer. pp. 1320-1323
Surveillance
Harper, D., Ellis, D. and Tucker, I. 2014. Surveillance. in: Teo T. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Critical Psychology Springer. pp. 1887-1892
Paranoia: Contested and Contextualised
Harper, D. and Cromby, J. 2013. Paranoia: Contested and Contextualised. in: Diamond, B., Coles, S. and Keenan, S. (ed.) Madness Contested: Power And Practice PCCS Books.
The Dynamics of Impersonal Trust and Distrust in Surveillance Systems
Ellis, D., Harper, D. and Tucker, I. 2013. The Dynamics of Impersonal Trust and Distrust in Surveillance Systems. Sociological Research Online. 18 (3), p. 8. https://doi.org/10.5153%2Fsro.3091
The Affective Atmospheres of Surveillance
Ellis, D., Tucker, I. and Harper, D. 2013. The Affective Atmospheres of Surveillance. Theory & Psychology. 23 (6), pp. 716-731. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0959354313496604
Transformative processes of agency: information technologies and the production of digitally mediated selves
Tucker, I., Ellis, D. and Harper, D. 2012. Transformative processes of agency: information technologies and the production of digitally mediated selves. Kultūra ir visuomenė: socialinių tyrimų žurnalas [Culture and Society: Journal of Social Research]. 3 (1), pp. 9-24.
Beyond evidence-based practice: rethinking the relationship between research, theory and practice
Harper, D., Gannon, K. and Robinson, M. 2013. Beyond evidence-based practice: rethinking the relationship between research, theory and practice. in: Bayne, Rowan and Jinks, Gordon (ed.) Applied psychology: research, training and practice, second edition London SAGE.
Surveying Qualitative Research Teaching on British Clinical Psychology Training Programmes 1992–2006: A Changing Relationship?
Harper, D. 2012. Surveying Qualitative Research Teaching on British Clinical Psychology Training Programmes 1992–2006: A Changing Relationship? Qualitative Research in Psychology. 9 (1), pp. 5-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2012.630626
Uncovering recovery: the resistible rise of recovery and resilience
Harper, D. and Speed, E. 2012. Uncovering recovery: the resistible rise of recovery and resilience. Studies in Social Justice. 6 (1), pp. 9-25. https://doi.org/10.26522/ssj.v6i1.1066
Social inequality and the diagnosis of paranoia
Harper, D. 2011. Social inequality and the diagnosis of paranoia. Health Sociology Review. 20 (4), pp. 423-436. https://doi.org/10.5172/hesr.2011.20.4.423
The Social Context of Paranoia
Harper, D. 2011. The Social Context of Paranoia. in: Rapley, M., Moncrieff, J. and Dillon, J. (ed.) De-Medicalizing Misery: Psychiatry, Psychology and the Human Condition Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 53-65
No, we're not 'all in this together'!
Harper, D. 2011. No, we're not 'all in this together'! Asylum: the Magazine for Democratic Psychiatry. 18 (1), p. 4.
Researching “experience”: Embodiment, methodology, process
Brown, S. D., Cromby, J., Harper, D., Johnson, K. and Reavey, P. 2011. Researching “experience”: Embodiment, methodology, process. Theory & Psychology. 21 (4), pp. 493-515. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959354310377543
Choosing a Qualitative Research Method
Harper, D. 2011. Choosing a Qualitative Research Method. in: Harper, D. and Thompson, A. R. (ed.) Qualitative Research Methods in Mental Health and Psychotherapy: A Guide for Students and Practitioners Wiley Blackwell. pp. 83-97
Histories of suspicion in a time of conspiracy: a reflection on Aubrey Lewis's history of paranoia
Harper, D. 1994. Histories of suspicion in a time of conspiracy: a reflection on Aubrey Lewis's history of paranoia. History of the Human Sciences. 7 (3), pp. 89-109.
Deconstructing 'paranoia': towards a discursive understanding of apparently unwarranted suspicion
Harper, D. 1996. Deconstructing 'paranoia': towards a discursive understanding of apparently unwarranted suspicion. Theory & Psychology. 6 (3), pp. 423-448.
Some effects of conspiracy thinking and paranoid labelling
Harper, D. 2000. Some effects of conspiracy thinking and paranoid labelling. Clio's Psyche. 7, pp. 112-113.
Delusions and discourse: moving beyond the constraints of the modernist paradigm
Harper, D. 2004. Delusions and discourse: moving beyond the constraints of the modernist paradigm. Philosophy, Psychiatry & Psychology. 11 (1), pp. 55-64.
The critical professional and social policy: negotiating dilemmas in the UK Mental Health Act campaign
Harper, D. 2005. The critical professional and social policy: negotiating dilemmas in the UK Mental Health Act campaign. International Journal of Critical Psychology. 13, pp. 55-75.
Professional accounts of electroconvulsive therapy: a discourse analysis
Stevens, Peter and Harper, D. 2007. Professional accounts of electroconvulsive therapy: a discourse analysis. Social Science & Medicine. 64 (7), pp. 1475-1486.
Mental health teaching to UK psychology undergraduates: report of a survey
Cromby, John, Harper, D. and Reavey, Paula 2008. Mental health teaching to UK psychology undergraduates: report of a survey. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology. 18 (1), pp. 83-90.
Learning to use discourse analysis on a professional psychology training programme: accounts of supervisees and a supervisor
Harper, D., O'Connor, Julia, Self, Philip and Stevens, Peter 2008. Learning to use discourse analysis on a professional psychology training programme: accounts of supervisees and a supervisor. Qualitative Research in Psychology. 5 (3), pp. 192-213.
Paranoia: a social account
Cromby, John and Harper, D. 2009. Paranoia: a social account. Theory & Psychology. 19 (3), pp. 335-361.
Accounting for poverty: from attribution to discourse
Harper, D. 1996. Accounting for poverty: from attribution to discourse. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology. 6 (4), pp. 249-265.
Clinical Psychology in Context: A Commentary on David Pilgrim's ‘British Clinical Psychology and Society’
Harper, D. 2010. Clinical Psychology in Context: A Commentary on David Pilgrim's ‘British Clinical Psychology and Society’. Psychology Learning & Teaching. 9 (2), pp. 13-14. https://doi.org/10.2304/plat.2010.9.2.13
Challenging teenagers’ ideas about people with mental health problems
Sholl, C., Korkie, J. and Harper, D. 2010. Challenging teenagers’ ideas about people with mental health problems. The Psychologist. 23 (1), pp. 26-27.
Tensions and dilemmas in clinical psychology’s relationship with the service user movement
Harper, D. 2010. Tensions and dilemmas in clinical psychology’s relationship with the service user movement. Clinical Psychology Forum. 209, pp. 35-38. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpscpf.2010.1.209.35
Belief in a just world and attitudes towards mental illness
McKechnie, V. and Harper, D. 2010. Belief in a just world and attitudes towards mental illness. Psychosis: Psychological, Social and Integrative Approaches. 3 (2), pp. 145-147. https://doi.org/10.1080/17522439.2010.484504
Working with young people to challenge discrimination against mental health service users: a psychosocial pilot study
Sholl, C., Korkie, J. and Harper, D. 2009. Working with young people to challenge discrimination against mental health service users: a psychosocial pilot study. Clinical Psychology Forum. 196, pp. 45-49. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpscpf.2009.1.196.45
Preface: Learning from Our Work
Harper, D. 2009. Preface: Learning from Our Work. in: Stedmon, J and Dallos, R (ed.) Reflective Practice in Psychotherapy and Counselling Maidenhead Open University Press. pp. vii-xiii
Narrative therapy, family therapy and history
Harper, D. 2009. Narrative therapy, family therapy and history. Context: A Magazine for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice. 102 (April), pp. 17-18.
Diagnosis special issue - Introduction: Moving beyond diagnosis: Practising what we preach
Cromby, J., Harper, D. and Reavey, P. 2007. Diagnosis special issue - Introduction: Moving beyond diagnosis: Practising what we preach. The Psychologist. 20 (5), p. 289.
Diagnosis special issue - Part 6: Don’t jump ship! New approaches in teaching mental health to undergraduates
Harper, D., Cromby, J., Reavey, P., Cooke, A. and Anderson, J. 2007. Diagnosis special issue - Part 6: Don’t jump ship! New approaches in teaching mental health to undergraduates. The Psychologist. 20 (5), pp. 302-304.
The Complicity of Psychology in the Security State
Harper, D. 2007. The Complicity of Psychology in the Security State. in: Roberts, R. (ed.) Just War: Psychology and Terrorism Ross-on-Wye PCCS Books. pp. 15-45
Poverty and Discourse
Harper, D. 2003. Poverty and Discourse. in: Carr, S. C. and Sloan, T. S. (ed.) Poverty and Psychology: From Global Perspective to Local Practice Springer. pp. 185-203
The tyranny of expert language
Harper, D. 2002. The tyranny of expert language. Open Mind. 113, pp. 8-9.
When the drugs don’t work
Harper, D. 2002. When the drugs don’t work. Open Mind. 114, p. 8.
Moving beyond the tyranny of experts
Harper, D. 2002. Moving beyond the tyranny of experts. Open Mind. 115, pp. 20-21.