Posted by alexandra_k on September 20, 2004, at 0:28:23
The Problem of the Unwanted Prediction: Anomalous Experience Reconsidered.
One-Factor theorists of delusions, such as Brendan Maher consider that an anomalous experience is both necessary and sufficient for a subject to adopt a delusional belief. This line has been countered by Two-Factor theorists who maintain that while an anomalous experience may be necessary it is not sufficient. Various candidates for a second factor have been proposed along the lines of a cognitive bias and / or deficit. Davies et al. suggest that the delusional error may be in 'accepting a faulty perception to be veridical when there is rational grounds to doubt its veridicality'. This account of what is going wrong for the delusional subject implies what Davies et al. refer to as an 'unwanted prediction' where we should expect delusional subjects to accept their perception as veridical in the case of visual illusion. I would like to consider that by clarifying and suitably refining the kind of anomalous experience that is relevant to the production of delusion we may not need a second factor to get the subject from an anomalous experience to a delusional belief. Even if a second factor is required, the unwanted prediction may be avoided if visual illusion is the wrong kind of anomalous experience for the production of delusion.
k. title, abstract, deadline (Friday eep) now there is no excuse, really...
poster:alexandra_k
thread:392823
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/write/20040828/msgs/392823.html