Question 62

The young man is exhibiting a delusion.

Delusions are false beliefs that are strongly held despite contrary evidence. In this case, the young man is convinced that his phone is being monitored by spies, which indicates a belief that is disconnected from reality.

A) Obsession

Obsession refers to persistent, intrusive thoughts that cause anxiety or distress. While the young man may be preoccupied with the idea of being monitored, his belief is not merely an intrusive thought but a firmly held conviction, which aligns more closely with a delusion.

B) Hallucination

Hallucinations involve perceiving things that are not present, such as hearing voices or seeing things that don't exist. The young man's belief about being monitored does not involve any sensory perceptions that are false; rather, it is a belief without evidence, ruling out hallucination.

C) Delusion

Delusions are characterized by strongly held false beliefs that are resistant to reason or contrary evidence. The young man's firm conviction that his phone is being monitored by spies exemplifies a delusion, making this the correct answer.

D) Compulsion

Compulsion refers to repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, often to reduce anxiety. The young man's actions do not reflect a compulsion, as he is not engaging in repetitive behaviors but rather expressing a belief regarding his phone.

E) Phobia

Phobia is an irrational fear of a specific object or situation that leads to avoidance behavior. While the young man may be avoiding phone calls due to his belief, the nature of his concern is not fear-based, but rather a misguided conviction, which does not fit the definition of a phobia.

Conclusion

The young man's belief that his phone is being monitored by spies illustrates a classic example of a delusion, as it is a false belief held despite a lack of evidence. All other options fail to adequately describe his symptom, as they relate to different psychological phenomena that do not encompass the nature of his conviction. Thus, option C is the most accurate representation of his condition.