Which symptom describes the belief that one's body or actions are controlled by an outside force?

Which symptom describes the belief that one's body or actions are controlled by an outside force?

• A. Delusions of Control
• B. Hallucinations
• C. Hypnagogic Hallucinations
• D. Negativism

Answer: (A)

Delusions of control are fixed, false beliefs that external forces are directing your body, thoughts, or actions. People with this symptom feel that their movements are being manipulated by someone or something outside themselves, or that impulses and thoughts are inserted or withdrawn by others. It’s a belief held with conviction despite evidence to the contrary, and it reflects a disruption in the sense of personal agency rather than a sensory experience. This contrasts with hallucinations, which are sensory perceptions—like hearing voices or seeing things—that aren’t real. Hypnagogic hallucinations occur at the transition into sleep and aren’t about control over one’s actions. Negativism refers to resisting or opposing requests or instructions. In conditions like schizophrenia, delusions of control are a classic example of a disruption in the perception of one’s own control over actions.

Delusions of control are fixed, false beliefs that external forces are directing your body, thoughts, or actions. People with this symptom feel that their movements are being manipulated by someone or something outside themselves, or that impulses and thoughts are inserted or withdrawn by others. It’s a belief held with conviction despite evidence to the contrary, and it reflects a disruption in the sense of personal agency rather than a sensory experience.

This contrasts with hallucinations, which are sensory perceptions—like hearing voices or seeing things—that aren’t real. Hypnagogic hallucinations occur at the transition into sleep and aren’t about control over one’s actions. Negativism refers to resisting or opposing requests or instructions. In conditions like schizophrenia, delusions of control are a classic example of a disruption in the perception of one’s own control over actions.