Fluctuations in proximity seeking and paranoia.

These findings suggest that, in daily life, the attachment system may become active in response to stress. For those with an avoidant attachment style, an active attachment system may exacerbate paranoid thoughts possibly due to the activation of attachment-related beliefs that one should be fearful of unavailable others and instead rely on one's autonomy to regulate affect. These findings highlight the need to consider attachment in the assessment and formulation of paranoia.