For a thoughtful discussion of these issues, including the problem of excluding false beliefs that are shared by a culture or subculture from the definition of a delusion (which a priori virtually excludes the possibility of psychotic subcultures in DSM-IV), see:
Jaimie, L., & O'Donohue, W.T. (1999). What is a delusion? Epistemological dimensions. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 108, 687-694. Cheers....Scott Scott O. Lilienfeld, Ph.D. Professor Editor, Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice Department of Psychology, Room 473 Psychology and Interdisciplinary Sciences (PAIS) Emory University 36 Eagle Row Atlanta, Georgia 30322 [email protected] (404) 727-1125 Psychology Today Blog: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-skeptical-psychologist 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-140513111X.html Scientific American Mind: Facts and Fictions in Mental Health Column: http://www.scientificamerican.com/sciammind/ The Master in the Art of Living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation, his love and his intellectual passions. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence in whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him - he is always doing both. - Zen Buddhist text (slightly modified) From: Rick Froman [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 3:49 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: Re: [tips] Obsessions vs. delusions 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 --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13509.d0999cebc8f4ed4eb54d5317367e9b2f&n=T&l=tips&o=2288 (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) or send a blank email to leave-2288-13509.d0999cebc8f4ed4eb54d5317367e9...@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:leave-2288-13509.d0999cebc8f4ed4eb54d5317367e9...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> ________________________________ This e-mail message (including any attachments) is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this message (including any attachments) is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender by reply e-mail message and destroy all copies of the original message (including attachments). --- 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=2289 or send a blank email to leave-2289-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
