Freeman et al (2003) - Schizophrenia (VR and Persecutory Ideation)

What psychological issue was being investigated in Freeman et al. (2003)?

Persecutory ideation – the unfounded belief that one is being threatened, harassed, or conspired against, common in schizophrenia.

What new technology was used in Freeman et al. (2003) and why?

Virtual Reality (VR) was used to simulate social interactions to better understand paranoia and delusional thoughts in a controlled way.

What were the aims of Freeman et al. (2003)?

1) To investigate whether non-clinical individuals have persecutory thoughts in VR. 2) To identify cognitive and emotional factors predicting such ideation.

What type of research method and design was used in Freeman et al. (2003)?

Correlational study in a lab setting. Participants used VR and then completed various questionnaires for both qualitative and quantitative data.

What was the sample in Freeman et al. (2003)?

24 participants (12 males, 12 females), all from UCL (21 students, 3 staff), with no history of mental illness. Volunteer sampling. All were compensated.

What was the VR procedure used in Freeman et al. (2003)?

Participants entered a VR environment (e.g. library setting) and interacted with avatars, then completed assessments to judge their perceptions and thoughts about the avatars.

What was the main result regarding persecutory thoughts in Freeman et al. (2003)?

Non-clinical individuals did experience persecutory ideation in VR, showing that such thoughts can occur even without mental illness.

What variables were correlated with VR persecutory ideation in Freeman et al. (2003)?

Positive correlation with interpersonal sensitivity and anxiety; negative correlation with positive appraisal of avatars.

Did anxiety increase after using VR in Freeman et al. (2003)?

No. There was no significant increase in anxiety levels after the VR experience.

What conclusion was drawn from Freeman et al. (2003)?

Persecutory thoughts can arise in the general population, and emotional/cognitive processes like anxiety and sensitivity are key predictors.

How generalisable was Freeman et al. (2003)?

Mixed – Equal gender balance is good, but the sample was small and all from UCL, limiting generalisability.

How reliable was Freeman et al. (2003)?

High internal reliability due to controlled lab setting and standardised procedures. VR created realistic scenarios with repeatable structure.

How applicable was Freeman et al. (2003)?

Highly applicable to both clinical and non-clinical populations. VR could be used in therapy to better understand and treat paranoia.

What were the key ethical concerns in Freeman et al. (2003)?

Some deception (participants not told full purpose), potential psychological harm from VR, no mention of debriefing or explicit right to withdraw.

What psychological perspectives are supported by Freeman et al. (2003)?

Supports both individual (paranoia from internal traits) and situational (VR triggering paranoia) explanations.

How does Freeman et al. (2003) relate to idiographic vs nomothetic debate?

Idiographic: Qualitative insights from individual perceptions. Nomothetic: Quantitative correlations used to identify patterns and generalise findings.