Delusion
A delusion is an irrational, often bizarre thought. One of the most common types is the paranoid delusion, in which the sufferer believes that he or she is being persecuted, often by law enforcement or intelligence agencies.[1] Delusions of reference, or the belief that one is receiving messages from public sources, are also common. For example, a person suffering from a delusion of reference may believe that a television newscaster's words contain a special message directed specifically at him. Delusions of grandeur include beliefs that one is very powerful or famous, as seen in A Beautiful Mind. Such delusions may include beliefs that one is furthering the goals of an extraterrestrial or occult power.
An example of a non-psychological delusion is the delusion employed by the Lamestream Media when they refuse to consider facts (especially when inconvenient to them) and instead insert their own opinions as if they were "news", as well as inserting fake news to deceive the public.
Contents
Characteristics of delusionary thinking
See also: Pride and Superiority complex and Egocentric thinking and Hubris and Evidence-based thinking and Intellectual humility
Characteristics of delusionary thinking:
- Unwavering belief that what they think is real despite all evidence to the contrary
- Persistence of holding the belief in spite of all evidence to the contrary
- Defensiveness when the delusionary belief is challenged. See also: Denialism and Rationalization
- Person holding the delusionary belief has an exaggerated sense of self-importance. See also: Pride and Superiority complex and Egocentric thinking and Hubris
- Person holding the delusionary belief has an exaggerated sense of their competence. See also: Dunning-Kruger effect and Intellectual humility
- Behaviorial changes commonly associated abnormal thinking and behavior (Obsessive thinking, compulsive thinking/behavior, negative thinking, paranoid thinking, depression, etc.)
- Emotional Reasoning based on personal preferences: Believes something is true because it feels true or because it is to their liking, not because of facts.
- Confirmation bias: Seeks only information that agrees with beliefs and dismisses contrary evidence
- Overgeneralizes: Draws sweeping conclusions from little or no evidence.
- Personalization & Projection: Attributing external events to oneself without justification.
- Resistance to alternative explanations and perspectives. Other perspectives are dismissed as naive, manipulated, or malicious. The belief system becomes self-sealing/fulfilling: every challenge “proves” the belief more.
- Preoccupation: The thought dominates attention and conversations, even when it is inappropriate to do so.
- Distorted Causality: Seeing causal connections where there are none (a mild form of magical thinking or conspiracy thinking).
Types of delusions
- Persecutory delusions: The person believes they are being persecuted/wronged when they have not.
- Grandiose delusions: The person believes they have power, authority, competency and expertise.
See also
External links
- What Are Delusions? by By Amy Morin, LCSW
- Explaining Delusional Thinking by Shahram Heshmat Ph.D.
