Paranoid? It might just be because you’re short

‘SMALL-MAN syndrome’ may seem nothing more than a handy joke with which to taunt our vertically challenged friends.

However, it appears that it really might exist. Being short can undermine one’s quality of life, scientists have found.

In a simulated Tube train journey, virtual reality computer technology was used to reduce the height of volunteers by 10in.

Participants in the experiment at Oxford University then also took the ‘train’ at their actual height.

On both journeys, other virtual passengers were programmed to behave neutrally. Despite this, being ‘shorter’ led to more feelings of being unlikeable or inferior, as well as mistrust, fear and paranoia, researchers found.

The ‘height-reduced’ participants were also more likely to think someone else in the virtual train carriage was staring at or thinking badly about them.

Study leader Professor Daniel Freeman said the psychological consequences of reducing the volunteers’ height were ‘striking’.

Admittedly, all 60 women participants were already prone to ‘mistrustful thoughts’. But the researchers, who were studying paranoia, said the findings could still apply to how shorter people experience social situations.

Professor Freeman added: ‘Being tall is associated with greater career and relationship success. Height is taken to convey authority, and we feel taller when we feel more powerful. It is little wonder then that men and women tend to over-report their height.’