David LaPorte

Fear vs. Paranoia

From the pathological killer who gunned down the innocents at Virginia Tech to the average citizen who suspects the government is monitoring phone calls, the signs of suspiciousness and paranoia are all around us. Experienced psychologist and researcher Dr. David LaPorte understands what paranoia is, how and why it manifests itself, and the many forms it takes, including stalking, pathological jealousy, and perhaps even militia movements.

LaPorte completed his doctorate in clinical psychology at Temple University and his internship and postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the University of Minnesota. He previously held academic positions at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center. Currently, he is a professor and Director of Clinical Training in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He has published and presented in the areas of substance abuse, obesity and eating disorders, schizophrenia and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, forensic psychology, and clinical neuropsychology. His book, Paranoid: Exploring Suspicion From the Dubious to the Delusional was published last year by Prometheus Books.

When not following paranoid pursuits he prefers to submerge and you can be sure that the minute he is done making his presentation at PINC, he will find somewhere to go diving in Florida.