The element of the irrational at the beginning and during the course of delusion.

Abstract

Delusion is described from a phenomenological point of view. Based on the observation of 15 cases of delusion over a period of several years and 3 cases described by Japanese and American authors, I have concluded that delusion cannot be understood from a genetic, psychological or sociological standpoint alone. My aim was to discover symptoms which could not be explained by psychodynamic, sociological or other causes. Such symptoms may be called irrational (incomprehensible) symptoms. Their irrationality is analogous to the same symptoms which are described in their autobiographies by two great mystics about their ecstasy. We can see these symptoms in the accounts of Zen Buddhists. These symptoms represent experience of evidence, pseudohallucination, suffering in delusion, a message to do something, loss of awareness of time and space, the polarity of guilt and blessedness following each other in close succession and the feeling of shame. We will better understand delusion if we bear in mind the irrational factor.