Which delusion type involves a belief that one is going to be harmed or harassed by others?

Which delusion type involves a belief that one is going to be harmed or harassed by others?

• A. Delusions
• B. Referential Delusions
• C. Persecutory Delusions
• D. Grandiose Delusions

Answer: (C)

Persecutory delusions are fixed, false beliefs that one is going to be harmed, harassed, or otherwise mistreated by others. This includes ideas that people are spying on or plotting against you, or that a group or authority intends to cause you harm. It’s the classic pattern when someone feels targeted or persecuted by others, even in the absence of evidence. Why this best fits the question: the key element is the sense of threat or harassment from other people, not just unusual beliefs in general. In contrast, referential delusions involve thinking neutral events have special, personal meaning for the individual, grandiose delusions involve inflated beliefs about one’s own importance or abilities, and plain delusions can be about many themes that don’t center on being harmed. So the belief of being harmed or harassed by others specifically points to persecutory delusions.

Persecutory delusions are fixed, false beliefs that one is going to be harmed, harassed, or otherwise mistreated by others. This includes ideas that people are spying on or plotting against you, or that a group or authority intends to cause you harm. It’s the classic pattern when someone feels targeted or persecuted by others, even in the absence of evidence.

Why this best fits the question: the key element is the sense of threat or harassment from other people, not just unusual beliefs in general. In contrast, referential delusions involve thinking neutral events have special, personal meaning for the individual, grandiose delusions involve inflated beliefs about one’s own importance or abilities, and plain delusions can be about many themes that don’t center on being harmed. So the belief of being harmed or harassed by others specifically points to persecutory delusions.