When does something become a delusion?

So me and the wife were talking the other day about conspiracy theories and delusions. Conspiracy theories are basically out there ideas that people believe in regardless of how real or plausible they really are. So when does believing in conspiracy theories start to become delusions? Who draws the line? Not all people who believe in conspiracy theories are delusion and not all delusional people are conspiracy theories nuts.

The wife thinks the plausibility of the conspiracy theory is what determines if it's a delusion or not. For example, it's completely plausible that the gov't could have killed JFK. Where as believing in Elvis, Tupoc, and Michael Jackson are still alive together somewhere in seclusion is probably a delusion.

What about believing in the matrix? Is that a delusion? Is it really plausible? Who determines if it's plausible?

So my question is, when do y'all think a healthy belief in conspiracy theories actually become delusions? Or is believing in conspiracy theories just a delusion to begin with? What's y'all thinking?

This is a really fascinating question. I guess it's less of a delusion when there is a group of people holding the same fixed belief. Delusions in my experience are very isolating.

Looking forward to the responses on this thread...

I agree with franz kafka. Delusions are isolating, in the sense that other people don't share your perception and belief about *whatever*.

Believing in conspiracy theories is not a delusion itself, unless the believer becomes truly paranoid. Believing that Elvis, Tupoc, and Michael Jackson are still alive together somewhere is also not a delusion, unless the believer becomes obsessed with the idea...it's the focus of their every conversation, etc.

Yeah, I'm going with franz k - a delusion is something you perceive, you believe is true, it tends to fill your thinking, you've become paranoid about it, and other people don't "get" what you're believing, or why you're believing it. You feel alone, isolated.

In my experience, delusions in a mental health way would be ones that directly affect you and are distressing or exhilarating.

For example:
if you thought your neighbor was trying to harm you in your sleep.
if you thought people wearing sunglasses were government spies.
if you thought a bird perched on a tree outside was a sign of the heavens that you were the new jesus
if you thought a newscaster was sending messages to you to declare their love through a tv

These things are personally affecting you that invoke a reaction. Believing someone famous is alive or dead when they aren't is more of an odd quirk that some people might believe or not. However, sometimes these odd conspiracy ideas are a warning sign that a delusion will develop. Like you may start out thinking a famous person is alive that isn't and then it morphs into you thinking they are trying to contact you somehow.

A psychiatrist might think you're delusional if you think that someone who's died is still alive somewhere. Magical thinking is delusional (ie if you think you have magical powers). I'm not sure. You have some good questions.

Delusions don't do anything to help your life circumstances or your emotional well-being. At least with conspiracy theories, you get a chance to talk about whatever brand of crazy you're selling with like-minded people, maybe even someone will bring chips and dip to the party along with the tinfoil hats.

This is an interesting question! I liked the answers, too.

It amazes me, though, how so many people buy into crazy conspiracy theories. The Russians seem to know that very well. And yet, this year we've heard some pretty wild news and behavior that will surely make for some amazingly entertaining history for generations to come. I've heard writers, actors, and directors say their ideas sometimes don't even compare to the "reality TV" we watch/read every week.

Wikipedia: "A delusion is a mistaken belief that is held with strong conviction even when presented with superior evidence to the contrary. As a pathology, it is distinct from a belief based on false or incomplete information, confabulation, dogma, illusion, or some other misleading effects of perception."

The point is, I think, that the delusional/conspiracy-minded believer goes on believing despite all evidence to the contrary. Like the guy who shot up the pizza place when there wasn't even a basement there.

It seems important to consider that some events considered to be conspiracies truly might be conspiracies. I don't think conspiracy theories or theorists are necessarily a good example of delusion, because no one knows whether conspiracies are true, or not. We really don't know. No one knows, no one has a verifiable answer to the question.

If I believe that the news guy on TV is telling me to do *whatever* is something almost everyone (except another delusional person) would agree is provably unbelievable. That's a clearer example of what "delusional" means.

Classic. Just classic! LOL

I think this has an element of truth. I suspect some producers get their ideas in this way too by watching that “reality TV”.

As far as conspiracy theorists go, my next door neighbor thinks it was a hologram when the jet crashed into the twin towers. He believes that it never happened. Another believes that there were workers spraying on purpose a highly flammable substance within each building to aid in the destruction of those same towers by the jet that crashed into it.

Are these delusions? Or not?

It is interesting that the same next door neighbor thinks that same hologram technology will be used by the government to stage a false invasion by alien beings in flying saucers. This person also told me that one night he caught a couple aliens and their “handler” rummaging through his kitchen drawers. He chased them out of his kitchen.

Now tell me, are any of these delusions? Or just strange beliefs? Can the meaning and belief behind his hallucination be also considered a delusion? I believe that he believes in what he told me. There also are many on the Internet who believes in these same things. I do not know what to make of this. Unfortunately, there are disingenuous people with no scruples on the Internet making money off of these unfortunate souls.

Wow, another very conservative thread from people who are supposedly fighting the stigma on mental illness (right?).
*SMH*
I'm not a "conspiracy theorist", but (for example) referring to people who are interested in conspiracy possibilities "unfortunate souls" is taking it too far.

"Wear a tinfoil hat" ??? Way to perpetuate major mental health stigma. Do you know that that term is used to denigrate people with mental illness?