Hi Rob- An obsession is where you feel that you have to do something (e.g. repeated hand washing in OCD). A delusion is where you have a belief that is untrue (e.g. I am Napolean Bonepart). There can be some overlap. For example, you might have the delusion that everything you touch is covered with highly toxic bacteria which might lead you to be obsessive about constantly washing your hands. Usually, however, people who are delusional do not feel compelled to engage in unnecessary repeated actions the way some people with OCD do.
Hope that helps, -Don. ----- Original Message ----- From: Rob Weisskirch <[email protected]> Date: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 4:06 pm Subject: [tips] Obsessions vs. delusions To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <[email protected]> > TIPSfolk, > > A student asked the difference between an obsession a la OCD and a > delusion. I couldn't come up with a coherent distinction > when I was further > questioned. > > Can someone give me a concrete distinction? > > Thanks, > Rob > > Rob Weisskirch, MSW. Ph.D. > Professor 90.77% Furlough 9.23% > Associate Professor of Human Development > Certified Family Life Educator > Liberal Studies Department > California State University, Monterey Bay > 100 Campus Center, Building 82C > Seaside, CA 93955 > (831) 582-5079 > [email protected] > > This message is intended only for the addressee and may contain > confidential, privileged information. If you are not the > intendedrecipient, you may not use, copy or disclose any > information contained in > the message. If you have received this message in error, > please notify the > sender by reply e-mail and delete the message. > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13157.966b795bc7f3ccb35e3da08aebe98f18&n=T&l=tips&o=2268or > send a blank email to > leave-2268-13157.966b795bc7f3ccb35e3da08aebe98...@fsulist.frostburg.edu Don Allen Retired professor Langara College --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=2269 or send a blank email to leave-2269-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
