(e) Delusions. A delusion may be defined as a fixed false belief.
Types of delusions include paranoid delusions, grandiose delusions, somatic delusions,
and delusions of poverty. Paranoid delusions are delusions in which the individual
believes someone is out to get him (although this is not true). A person with grandiose
delusions (delusions of grandeur) may believe he is a sports hero, a famous political
leader, or someone all-powerful like God. An individual with somatic delusions focuses
on his body and is convinced that he is the victim of a frightening disease. A person
with delusions of poverty is convinced that he is penniless and responsible for the
downfall of his family (although this is not true).
(f) Hallucinations. The schizophrenic person may hear, taste, see,
smell, or feel things that are not there.
1-6.
PERSONALITY DISORDERS
Throughout their lives, people continually develop and change as required by the
changing demands, opportunities, and limitations which accompany different stages of
life. As an individual grows, however, certain broad traits, coping styles, and ways of
behaving socially tend to emerge. By the time a person has completed the teen years,
he has developed his own unique ways of dealing with life situations. These ways or
patterns are his personality. An adult personality is usually able to deal effectively with
the society in which he lives. In contrast, there are some individuals whose personality
development has been warped. These individuals cannot live comfortably in any
society. Such individuals have a personality disorder. Typical personality disorders are
not caused by stress or anxiety but rather by immature and distorted personality
development.
a. Paranoid Personality. The person who is paranoid feels singled out and
taken advantage of, mistreated, plotted against, stolen from, spied upon, ignored, or
otherwise mistreated by "enemies." These feelings are delusions. In truth, no one is
"out to get" the person. Characteristics of the paranoid personality include the following:
(1)
Hypersensitive.
(2)
Rigid.
(3)
Suspicious.
(4)
Jealous.
(5)
Envious.
(6)
Exaggerated sense of own importance.
(7)
Tendency to blame others.
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