Delusions

A delusion is a belief that certain events are literally true, notwithstanding overwhelming evidence to the contrary; and the meaning attached to these events is equally true, so much so that the analogy used to apprehend the meaning of the event becomes more literally true than the event itself. In consequence, the delusion is deeply inflexible, and not open to literal or analogic information that contradicts the delusion and its construction.

A delusion is not simply a mistaken idea. The inflexible arrangement of the delusion in literal and analogic terms means that common approaches such as compassion and empathy, partial agreement, discussion, negotiation, make absolutely no impression on the delusion.

In fact, common approaches commonly reinforce the delusion. A person experiencing a delusion may well recall the delusion as the content, and the context, of a verbal communication, and have no recollection of anything else.