Situation · Work
“My boss thinks everyone is out to get him”
What could be going on
Suspicious of motives: Fits exactly; check whether the suspicion has any real basis.
Paranoid personality: Fits if the distrust is pervasive and long-standing, across many people.
Mistrust/abuse schema: Fits if they expect betrayal from everyone.
Projection: Fits if they suspect others of what they themselves do.
Hypervigilance: Fits if they constantly scan for threat and can't relax.
Machiavellianism: Fits if they see people as manipulative because they themselves are.
Questions to carry
- The last time he suspected someone, what had they done, and what did he read into it?
- How do I watch my own words around him, and what does it take out of me?
Also said as
- my manager is paranoid
- she suspects everyone of plotting against her
- he reads hidden motives into everything
- my boss doesn't trust anyone
- paranoid boss
- my supervisor thinks people are conspiring against him