Mental Illness?

On Mental Illness

"That's crazy." "You need help." "You're delusional."
Soulbonders and otakukin who tell others about their beliefs and experiences likely hear this sort of thing more often than they would like to. Many would reply, however, that their beliefs are no stranger than anyone else's, and might not that believing oneself to be a faery might (to some people) pale in comparison to believing in virgin birth. So, are these subcultures mentally ill?

Many otakukin and soulbonders are, indeed, unstable. Many people have some form of mental disorder. A perusal of Livejournals will tell you that these communities are afflicted by diverse ailments, from ADHD to Aspergers, bipolar disorder, and many kinds of depression. This may or may not say anything about their beliefs; if you were to poll an average college class, you would likely find a comparable number. The real question, of course, is whether or not their belief in soulbonding or otakukin is, in and of itself, a sign of a mental disorder.

A look at the DSM-IV (the current standard manual for diagnosing mental illnesses) shows the multiplicity and diversity of mental illness. There are well-defined criteria for determining if someone has autism, depression, or anything else. Mental illnesses come with a wide variety of symptoms and varying functionality. The most common suggestion is that otakukin and soulbonders are delusional. However, delusions are a symptom of several mental illnesses, and being delusional in and of itself is not a diagnosis. Furthermore, what constitutes a delusion is clearly defined by the DSM-IV (see sidebar.) When considering whether these groups are delusional or otherwise unstable, these are all important things to keep in mind.

Delusional?

As with most things, it depends upon the individual. One can, however, compare the most common claims of otakukin and soulbonders to the diagnostic criteria for delusional thinking.

• Are soulbonders and otakukin certain about their experiences? Is it a fixed belief? It seems to me that, in most cases, the answer is yes. The language used to describe these experiences often implies a deep-rooted, inherent belief that most psychiatrists would consider "fixed." I will note that this is more true of otakukin, whose beliefs are ego-syntonic, than of soulbonders, but it may be true in either case at times.
• Are these groups making an inference about external reality? The bulk of claims made by otakukin concern their souls. Soulbonders, too make claims about their own mental space, not anything external. So, in a word, no; neither of these claims are about what psychiatrists call "external reality"
• Is there "incontrovertible and obvious proof or evidence" to counter their claims? This often depends upon who one is talking with. In the case of otakukin who simply say that they were reincarnated from a very different life on another plane of existence, the claim is non-falsifiable. This merely means that there's no way to prove it true or false. It's a bit like believing in God - no one can prove you're right or wrong. Such a belief cannot properly be called incorrect. the same is true of soulbonders; you cannot prove that they do not, in fact, hold conversations with a variety of fictional characters within their mind.
• Is their belief accepted by other members of their "culture or subculture?" Uh... yes, actually. Soulbonders and otakukin are small but growing subcultures online, and these subcultures, by definition, accept the core claims of their group. Obviously, not everyone will accept every claim, but the core beliefs are generally accepted.

Yes, you got it. That last criteria means that these folks cannot properly be called delusional. That doesn't mean, though, that they are all bastions of sanity. I asked a psychiatrist about these subcultures once. I had to explain the concepts to him, because he was unfamiliar with much of the internet. In essence, he brushed it off as a (generally) harmless, if a bit odd, but he also noted that it could, in some circumstances, be either harmful or helpful.

A psychiatrist might find very little wrong with an engaged secretary who believes her soul was originally from Neon Genesis Evangelion, but might be more concerned with an otakukin who cannot hold a job (because he refuses to answer to anything besides Shinji Ikari, of course,) and who spends all of his time and money collecting magical and/or anime-related artifacts and attempting to "escape" to their original home. Whether or not someone's certifiable has less to do with what they believe as it does with how well they function. Psychiatry today isn't about helping people to realize "the truth;" it's about helping them lead normal lives.

I just explained that I don't think soulbonders and otakukin are necessarily delusional or mentally ill. It's important to note that this does not mean that I think that such beliefs are always harmless. Any belief can be harmful. It all depends on what role it serves for the believers.