Urban Paranoia?

Adapted from an article first published in The New Zealand Herald on 22.10.08

An "age of paranoia" is dawning at the start of the 21st century, a leading psychiatrist says.  Dr Daniel Freeman, who has spent a decade conducting pioneering research into paranoia, believes one in four people regularly suffer irrational fears of being threatened or in danger. 

Paranoia is far more common than had been suspected, and on the increase, he claims, primarily as a result of growing inequity, social (particularly urban) isolation, and a more competitive society.
These days, we daren't let our children play outside. We're suspicious of strangers. Security cameras are everywhere," he remarks in a news release put out by the British charity the Wellcome Trust.

"We seem to have entered an age of paranoia. And the indications are that things may only get worse."

Dr Freeman has developed a "virtual reality" method of diagnosing paranoia, in which participants wear headsets and respond to a simulated environment then complete questionnaires. One factor in the "era of suspiciousness" is the increasing number of people living in cities, he says.
 
Increasing paranoia is certainly one more challenge posed by galloping urbanisation.

"Unequal distribution of wealth played a major role in fostering paranoid feelings," Dr Freeman said.

Dr Freeman also criticised the media for hyping up threats and adopting an "if it bleeds, it leads" attitude to coverage.
He makes his claims in his recently published book, Paranoia: the 21st Century Fear.