Social Work Exam Human Behavior Practice Test 2025 – Complete Prep

The phenomenon contributing to a patient's delusion of being targeted by others is confirmation bias. This cognitive bias occurs when individuals favor information that confirms their pre-existing beliefs or hypotheses while disregarding or minimizing evidence that contradicts them. In the context of delusions, especially persecutory delusions where a patient feels they are being targeted or harassed, confirmation bias may lead them to interpret benign or ambiguous interactions as hostile or threatening. As the individual collects experiences that reinforce their belief of being targeted, they become increasingly convinced of its validity, further entrenching their delusion.

Sublimation, anxiety sensitivity, and compulsive behavior do not directly explain the development of such delusions. Sublimation refers to channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities, anxiety sensitivity relates to the fear of anxiety-related sensations, and compulsive behavior involves repetitive actions or thoughts. While these concepts are important in understanding broader psychological processes, they do not specifically address the cognitive processes that reinforce delusional thinking like confirmation bias does.