Social Work Examination Services (SWES) Individual Practice Test

A client stating that he is convinced the FBI is watching him and influencing his thoughts is an example of which psychological phenomenon?

1. Hallucination

2. Delusion

3. Neurosis

4. Psychosis

The correct answer is: Delusion

The scenario presented involves a client who firmly believes that the FBI is watching him and influencing his thoughts. This belief is characterized as a delusion, which is a false belief that is strongly held despite contradictory evidence or reality. Delusions are generally categorized as fixed, irrational beliefs that are not aligned with reality and can significantly impact an individual's perception and behavior. In this case, the client's conviction about the FBI's surveillance and thought influence reflects a prominent feature of paranoia, a specific type of delusion that involves unfounded mistrust or suspicion. Unlike hallucinations, where individuals perceive things that are not present (such as hearing voices or seeing things), the client here is not experiencing false sensory perceptions but rather holds a firm belief in a reality that is not supported by evidence. Neurosis refers to a range of psychological issues that typically involve anxiety or other feelings of distress but do not include severe distortions of reality. Psychosis, while a broader category that includes delusions and hallucinations, encompasses various mental disorders where there is a loss of contact with reality. However, in this specific instance, the term that most accurately describes the client's experience is delusion, as it captures the essence of the client's irrational belief without implying a complete detachment from reality that