What's the opposite of paranoia?

[Boojatta]

Suppose that an investigative journalist has been writing about organized crime. The journalist narrowly escapes the blast when his or her car is booby-trapped with a bomb. The journalist's conclusion: somebody was trying to booby-trap another person's car and mistook the journalist's car for that other car. It was simply a case of mistaken automobile identity.

[skygazer]

1. I don't think what you're describing would be paranoia

To feel that the bomb was meant for them wouldn't be paranoia, it would be a sensible deduction based on the evidence at hand. Paranoia is more like the belief that someone was stalking you with intent to do harm when you had no real evidence that they were.

As for what the opposite of real paranoia would be.... I don't know. Maybe ennui?

[Boojatta]

2. "it would be a sensible deduction based on the evidence at hand"

Exactly! It would be a sensible deduction.

What if strong evidence fails to persuade you that anyone intends to harm you?

In paranoia, extremely weak evidence persuades you. The opposite would seem to be a failure of strong evidence to persuade you.

[tigereye]

3. that sounds like denial!

:D

The opposite of paranoia could be pronoia - the idea that the universe is out to do you good!

[Boojatta]

5. Interesting idea

:)

[CrownPrinceBandar]

4. I don't think it has an antonym.............

What's the opposite of the common cold?

In the case of the reporter, he/she seems either oblivious/uninformed/naive.

[sammythecat]

6. "utterly clueless"? n/t

[old mark]

7. Stupidity. nt