Delusion
| Tell me about your mother Psychology |
|
| For our next session... |
| Popping into your mind |
| —Robert M. Pirsig[1] |
A delusion is a false belief about external reality that is evidently false or that remains unchanged despite obvious evidence to the contrary.[2] It is commonly (but not exclusively) the result of a mental disorder, such as schizophrenia or psychosis. Delusions are often bizarre, meaning physically impossible.[2][note 1]
Systematically shared beliefs between close social groups, such as religious systems, are commonly regarded as delusions amongst scientists, philosophers, and psychologists,[citation needed] but are typically considered exempt by most clinical diagnostic criteria (e.g., the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders states that the belief must not be accepted by the person's culture or subculture).[2] The noted New Atheist, Richard Dawkins, wrote a book entitled The God Delusion, in which he asserted that the question of God's existence was tied to the question of special creation, and then argued that since special creation has largely been demonstrated to be false, belief in God is a delusion.
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ↑ From The Skeptic's Dictionary: "Being deluded is not the same as being mentally ill. A delusion is a false belief that cannot be corrected with compelling evidence or sound arguments. Some mental illnesses do involve fixations on false beliefs that no amount of evidence or cogent reasoning can alter. But everyone—not just the mentally ill—is subject to numerous "hidden persuaders" that trick us into believing we know something when we don't. We did not evolve to care as much about the truth of a belief as its utility. Whole nations can be deluded about such things as witches or gods or psychics quite easily with a mixture of ignorance, wishful thinking, communal reinforcement, confirmation bias, and motivated reasoning."[3]
External links[edit]
- See the Wikipedia article on Gas Light (the play).
- See the Wikipedia article on Gaslight (1940 film).
- See the Wikipedia article on Gaslight (1944 film).
References[edit]
- ↑ Lila: An Inquiry Into Morals by Robert M. Pirsig (1991) Bantam. ISBN 0553299611.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 APA (2013). DSM-5 {{{!}}} Glossary pp. 819-820
- ↑ "FAQ (frequently asked questions)" / Q2. The Skeptic's Dictionary.
- ↑ What we talk about when we talk about Donald Trump and ‘gaslighting’ by Caitlin Gibson (January 27 at 1:25 PM) The Washington Post.