Why Delusions Matter

With “delusions” we may refer to symptoms of mental health problems, such as schizophrenia, or beliefs that people cling to, which are implausible and resistant to counterevidence; these can include anything from beliefs about the benefits of homeopathy to concerns about alien abduction. Lisa Bortolotti explains what delusions are and argues that they can also play a positive role in people's lives, imposing some meaning on adverse experiences and strengthening personal or social identities.