Unimpaired abduction to alien abduction: lessons on delusion formation

Ema Sullivan-Bissett (Birmingham)

Unimpaired abduction to alien abduction: lessons on delusion formation

In this paper I argue that an investigation into alien abduction beliefs can inform and support my preferred version of the one-factor account of delusion formation. Although I remain neutral on whether alien abduction beliefs are delusions, I argue that the formation and maintenance of these beliefs can be explained by a one-factor account, and that this account can explain paradigmatic monothematic delusions in the same way. If alien abduction beliefs are not delusions, we can still take an important lesson from this case into the delusion formation literature. . If alien abduction belief can be explained by a one-factor account, so too I argue, can (other) monothematic delusions, since there are no differences between alien abduction belief and monothematic delusions which indicate the need for additional explanatory factors. Additionally, whilst alien abduction belief can be readily explained using a one-factor framework, the two-factor framework needs adjusting to give an explanation in this case My conclusion is that the delusion formation debate—specifically, a defence of the one-factor account—can be informed by an investigation into alien abduction belief, a much under-discussed case in the literature on delusion formation.

Reading to complete in advance: Max Coltheart, "From the internal lexicon to delusional belief," Avant 5/3 (2014): 19-29.