Scott Lilienfeld wrote with regard to the distinction between obsessions and 
delusions:

"Dstinction here is usually clear-cut, but not always.  Classically, delusions 
are fixed false beliefs (also not shared by members of one's culture or 
subculture according to the DSM, although some - myself included - disagree)"



I have to say that I also disagree. My definition of a delusion is a fixed, 
false belief about something for which there is no empirical evidence. The 
following are some delusions common to many cultures that should be subject to 
psychiatric treatment in this order:



*         Belief in a personal god who loves you.

*         Belief in the existence of good and evil.

*         Thinking your life has a purpose.

*         Believing in one true love.

*         Believing you have freedom to choose your beliefs and behaviors.

*         Believing in any causes of behavior beyond biology, environment and 
the interaction between them.

*         Believing you should or shouldn't [fill in the blank].

*         Believing there are no "shoulds" or "shouldn'ts".

*         Belief that the scientific method can be used to answer all 
meaningful questions.



Rick



Dr. Rick Froman, Chair
Division of Humanities and Social Sciences
Professor of Psychology
Box 3055
John Brown University
2000 W. University Siloam Springs, AR  72761
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
(479)524-7295
http://tinyurl.com/DrFroman

"The LORD detests both Type I and Type II errors." Proverbs 17:15






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