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Chapter 20 - Delusions and Beliefs as a Symptom of Illness

from Pathological Beliefs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2022

By
Eisuke Sakakibara
Edited by
Julien Musolino ,
Joseph Sommer  and
Pernille Hemmer
Julien Musolino
Affiliation:
Rutgers University, New Jersey
Joseph Sommer
Affiliation:
Rutgers University, New Jersey
Pernille Hemmer
Affiliation:
Rutgers University, New Jersey
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Summary

This chapter illustrates various examples of delusions and then reviews three issues regarding their nature. The first issue concerns the characterization of delusions as mental states. The philosophical debate between those who consider delusions as beliefs and those who propose otherwise is examined. The second issue concerns the pathological nature of delusions. The grounds for and implications of pathologizing a belief are elucidated. This issue suggests that the extension of pathological beliefs does not coincide with that of delusions. Furthermore, it highlights how delusions are held by patients who are “hijacked” by their illness, thus exempting them from responsibility for the negative consequences of delusions. The third issue concerns the psychopathology of delusion. I discuss theories regarding the causes of delusions, including abnormal inferences, abnormal experiences, or both, suggesting that the cause of delusions is likely to differ among different mental disorders.

Keywords

abnormal experienceanti-doxasticismdelusiondoxasticismirrationalitysymptom of illnessmental disorderpsychiatrytwo-factor theory
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cognitive Science of Belief
A Multidisciplinary Approach
 , pp. 440 - 462
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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