Magical Thinking in Personality Disorders and Conspiracy Theorists
Channel: Prof. Sam Vaknin
Date: 2020-07-24

Magical thinking: I think=I do/I prevent=It is (Illusory Beliefs Inventory – IBI).

Confusion of internal and external (external objects, events, and processes affected by cognitions, emotions, and moods). 

Defective theory of mind (Piaget’s egocentricity in preoperational phase of development) and Theory of World (causation)

Form of infantile grandiosity coupled with autoplastic defenses common in neurosis. Comorbid with OCD (regain control) but not with worry or anxiety (which are more closely correlated with intolerance of uncertainty and perfectionism).

Examples of Magical Thinking:

Narcissist: action at a distance, omnipresence

Borderline: object inconstancy, dissociation (undo, rewind), disinhibited lack of impulse control

Psychopath: omnipotence, control (via intimidation and disinhibited lack of impulse control)

Conspiracism

Additional Reading: Piaget, Bettelheim, Rozin, Nemeroff, Eugene Subbotsky

Buy most of my books in Amazon https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/60F8EC8A-5812-4007-9F2C-DFA02EA713B3