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Experiment in virtual reality shows that reducing a person's height can increase feelings of vulnerability and raise levels of paranoia (Daniel Freeman (6' 2") and Jason Freeman (6', perhaps))

"Feeling smaller makes people feel paranoid, mistrustful and more likely to think that people are staring or talking about them, a study by Oxford University finds" (Sarah Knapton, Science Correspondent, The Telegraph, 29 Jan 2014)

"Height perception and paranoia - Experiment in virtual reality shows that reducing a person's height can increase feelings of vulnerability and raise levels of paranoia" (Ian Sample, The Guardian,

"The height of confidence (and a little paranoia) - How a virtual reality experiment could help to treat people with paranoid symptoms" (Daniel and Jason Freeman, The Guardian, 29 Jan 2014)

"There really is no fun being a shorty: Being smaller can lead to feelings of being unlikeable as well as fear and paranoia" (Daily Mail, 29 Jan 2014)

See also: BBC Radio 4's Today programme (time stamp: 55:10) and the original paper (open access)

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