Understanding / Psychosis
Psychosis - Phenomenology, Psychopathology and Pathophysiology February 2, 2022 DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.101809 (opens in new tab)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractKarl Jaspers' concept of understanding is central to defining psychosis, yet paradoxically psychosis is characterized by un-understandability—the inability to empathize with the patient's mind, implying a pathological brain process. This un-understandability of patients' own intentions makes them judged as irresponsible in forensic cases. The text suggests that self-disorder, which represents psychosis, may be based on disturbed self-understanding.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Proposes that psychosis is defined by un-understandability, which implies a pathological brain process and underpins judgments of irresponsibility in forensic cases. |
Abstract
“Understanding” in Jaspers’ sense is the essential concept for defining psychosis, although its relationship is paradoxical, that is, psychosis is defined by un-understandability or inability to understand. Un-understandability means the inability of empathizing with the patient’s mind and implies the existence of a pathological process in the patient’s brain. The pivotal concept which makes psychotic patients be judged as irresponsible in forensic cases is disturbed self-understanding or un-understandability of their own intentions. It is suggested that self-disorder representing psychosis might be based on disturbed self-understanding.