Definition of "delusion" in DSM-5

[Alexmahone]

I feel like the answer lies squarely in the definition. (bold mine)

I think that part of the definition is unnecessary. Galileo believed the earth revolved around the sun despite what almost everyone else believed. Was he delusional?

[bennyboy]

I borrowed a copy of the DSM-5 from my university library today. In the glossary of technical terms, "delusion" is defined as

A false belief based on incorrect inference about external reality that is firmly held despite what almost everyone else believes and despite what constitutes incontrovertible and obvious proof or evidence to the contrary.

So far, so good. It then adds:

The belief is not ordinarily accepted by other members of the person's culture or subculture (i.e., it is not an article of religious faith).

Why do religious beliefs get a free pass? So if you're convinced Elvis Presley is still alive, you're delusional but if you think Jesus of Nazareth is still alive and can hear/answer your prayers, you're just a Christian. Why the double standard?

Religious beliefs get a free pass because they are a cultural institution, not a sign of poor psychological health in the individual being examined/tested.  Remember what the book is for-- diagnosing mental dysfunction, not assessing the validity of people's world views in general.

---

I feel like the answer lies squarely in the definition. (bold mine)

I think that part of the definition is unnecessary. Galileo believed the earth revolved around the sun despite what almost everyone else believed. Was he delusional?

Clearly not, but they almost certainly believed so.

The problem is that everyone has an asshole and an opinion, and one often comes from the other.

[Jenny A]

I borrowed a copy of the DSM-5 from my university library today. In the glossary of technical terms, "delusion" is defined as


So far, so good. It then adds:


Why do religious beliefs get a free pass? So if you're convinced Elvis Presley is still alive, you're delusional but if you think Jesus of Nazareth is still alive and can hear/answer your prayers, you're just a Christian. Why the double standard?

I feel like the answer lies squarely in the definition. (bold mine)

Bing on the nose.  And also why people who believe in various consperisy theories are generally not treated as delusional either.

[SteelCurtain]

I feel like the answer lies squarely in the definition. (bold mine)

I think that part of the definition is unnecessary. Galileo believed the earth revolved around the sun despite what almost everyone else believed. Was he delusional?

It seems you are alternately focusing on parts of the definition rather than the whole.

A false belief based on incorrect inference about external reality that is firmly held despite what almost everyone else believes and despite what constitutes incontrovertible and obvious proof or evidence to the contrary.

Seems to me Galileo's covered.

[Cyberman]

Indeed. Galileo showed that what he 'believed' was actually true. That's the one thing that believers in gods, conspiracies etc actively avoid doing.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I borrowed a copy of the DSM-5 from my university library today. In the glossary of technical terms, "delusion" is defined as

A false belief based on incorrect inference about external reality that is firmly held despite what almost everyone else believes and despite what constitutes incontrovertible and obvious proof or evidence to the contrary.

So far, so good. It then adds:

The belief is not ordinarily accepted by other members of the person's culture or subculture (i.e., it is not an article of religious faith).

Why do religious beliefs get a free pass? So if you're convinced Elvis Presley is still alive, you're delusional but if you think Jesus of Nazareth is still alive and can hear/answer your prayers, you're just a Christian. Why the double standard?

As I understand it religions got exempted in the first DSM for the delusion thing.

[GrandizerII]

Of course they would exempt religion, because pretty much the whole friggin world is religious.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Of course they would exempt religion, because pretty much the whole friggin world is religious.

And pretty much the whole world is either lying about being religious, for safety's sake, or delusional. 

[Mister Agenda]

Surely you're changing the definition here. The DSM-5 doesn't say anything about the crippling effect of the delusion.

Psychological diagnoses in general take the affect on the person's ability to live their life into account. If I think Mossad is following me but I'm cool about it and don't habitually grab people by the collar to harangue them about it, my irrational belief isn't causing any real problems. It makes me eccentric, not insane. In the case of religion, believing what you've been taught is true since you were a small child and what nearly everyone important to takes for granted is true is a learned position, not a delusion, and, arguably, adaptive. You may be better off in many senses if you continue to believe.

[Edwardo Piet]

I borrowed a copy of the DSM-5 from my university library today. In the glossary of technical terms, "delusion" is defined as

A false belief based on incorrect inference about external reality that is firmly held despite what almost everyone else believes and despite what constitutes incontrovertible and obvious proof or evidence to the contrary.

So far, so good. It then adds:

The belief is not ordinarily accepted by other members of the person's culture or subculture (i.e., it is not an article of religious faith).

Why do religious beliefs get a free pass? So if you're convinced Elvis Presley is still alive, you're delusional but if you think Jesus of Nazareth is still alive and can hear/answer your prayers, you're just a Christian. Why the double standard?

I know why they get a free pass.

Because you missed the part I've just bolded:

A false belief based on incorrect inference about external reality that is firmly held despite what almost everyone else believes and despite what constitutes incontrovertible and obvious proof or evidence to the contrary.

It's NOT despite what almost everyone else believes. Almost everyone DOES believe in that nonsense. To have an imaginary friend is only non-delusional because it's so goddamn common. You're welcome.

Apart from that it is batshit crazy and psychotic, yes. There's sanity in numbers. When 80% of the world is crazy it's the 20% sane people that are considered a little odd for not having an imaginary friend.

---

I borrowed a copy of the DSM-5 from my university library today. In the glossary of technical terms, "delusion" is defined as


So far, so good. It then adds:


Why do religious beliefs get a free pass? So if you're convinced Elvis Presley is still alive, you're delusional but if you think Jesus of Nazareth is still alive and can hear/answer your prayers, you're just a Christian. Why the double standard?

I feel like the answer lies squarely in the definition. (bold mine)

DAMNIT I thought I was original but you totally ninja'd me

You're right.

---

I feel like the answer lies squarely in the definition. (bold mine)

I think that part of the definition is unnecessary. Galileo believed the earth revolved around the sun despite what almost everyone else believed. Was he delusional?

The definition is the premise. I thought we are debating what part of the definition means religious beliefs aren't considered a psychiatric delusion. We are already accepting the definition as it is the premise.

Are you questioning what part of the definition means religious beliefs aren't considered a psychiatric definition or are you questioning whether you agree with the definition or think certain parts of it are unnecessary? You have to be clear with your question otherwise your definition will be so flexible and equivocal that you will flip back and forth too much to be addressing anything coherent.