57. A young man is convinced that his phone is being monitored by spies from another country, even though he has no ties to the country and has never visited it. His conviction leads him to tell his friends and family not to contact him by phone. Which of the following symptoms is he exhibiting?
Answer: C
The young man is exhibiting a delusion.
His belief that his phone is being monitored by spies, despite having no evidence or connections to support this idea, indicates a firm conviction in a false belief, which is characteristic of delusions.
A) Obsession
Obsession refers to persistent, intrusive thoughts that cause significant anxiety or distress. While the young man is fixated on the idea of being monitored, his belief lacks the compulsive behavior associated with obsession, making this option incorrect.
B) Hallucination
Hallucinations involve perceiving things that are not present, such as hearing voices or seeing things. The young man's belief does not stem from a sensory experience, but rather from a misguided conviction, thus ruling out hallucinations as a symptom.
C) Delusion
This option accurately describes the young man's condition. A delusion is a strongly held false belief that persists despite evidence to the contrary. His conviction that spies are monitoring his phone is a clear example of a delusion.
D) Compulsion
Compulsion refers to repetitive behaviors or mental acts that an individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession. The young man's avoidance of phone contact does not indicate a compulsion but rather a reaction to his delusional belief, making this option incorrect.
Conclusion
The young man's unwavering belief in phone monitoring by spies exemplifies a delusion, as it is a false belief maintained despite a lack of evidence. Other options, such as obsession, hallucination, and compulsion, do not accurately represent his symptoms, confirming that "C) Delusion" is the correct answer.