2024/11/08 by Ema Sullivan‐Bissett · 1 voice
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies #Historical Psychiatry and Medical Practices #Law in Society and Culture
paper · pdf · doi:10.21428/e2759450.e2c0ca66
openalex created_date 2024/11/08 · openalex publication_date 2024/11/08 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Delusions are beliefs of interest to researchers in cognitive science, psychiatry, psychology, and philosophy. They are formed on the basis of evidence that do not properly support their content and that are resistant to counterevidence. Often these beliefs have contents that are bizarre, and they can impair a personâs functioning by prompting anxiety or distress. For example, suppose that Fred believes his wife has been replaced by an imposter (Capgras delusion). Or Claire believes that she has ceased existing (Cotard delusion). Or Mohammed believes that his arm is being controlled by alien forces (delusion of control). This characterization is not intended to give necessary and sufficient conditions or to capture all and only delusions. Indeed, there are numerous debates about the nature of delusions: whether delusions are beliefs, what the content of delusions might be, how delusions are formed and maintained, how these processes interact with social factors, and the epistemic standing of people with delusions. The oddity of delusions makes them a useful test case for a wide range of topics currently studied by cognitive scientists.