Cognitive scientists have long debated the origins of persecutory delusions—those deeply held beliefs that others intend harm. Traditional models suggested these experiences emerged from complex social reasoning mechanisms. However, this groundbreaking study proposes a more fundamental explanation: our brains might be using simpler learning processes that can accidentally generate mistaken social interpretations.
Understanding how perception can deviate from reality matters profoundly for human potential. By mapping the computational pathways behind delusions, researchers open new avenues for supporting individuals experiencing mental health challenges. The study’s approach of examining underlying cognitive mechanisms—rather than judging the experience—represents a compassionate, scientifically rigorous method of exploring human psychological diversity. What might these insights reveal about the intricate ways our minds construct meaning and navigate social complexity?
It has been argued that social processes are relevant to belief formation and maintenance and thence to persecutory delusions – the fixed false beliefs that others intend harm. We call this the social turn in delusions research. It suggests that paranoia is the purview of a specialized mechanism for coalitional cognition – thinking about group membership and reputation management. Here, we suggest instead that a simpler, pseudosocial learning mechanism may underwrite persecutory and other delusions. We make our case in terms of computations (prediction, not coalition), algorithm (association rather than recursion), and implementation (dopaminergic domain-general rather than social-specific regions). We conclude with suggestions for adversarial collaboration that will clarify the contributions of domain-general versus social-specific processes to delusions.
