AIIMS Raipur NO - 2017 (Shift-1)
Mental Health Nursing
Easy

Thinking containing narcissistic, egocentric thought processes, such as fantasizing and daydreaming is known as?

Appeared in: AIIMS Raipur NO - 2017 (Shift-1)

Explanation

  • Autistic thinking, in the context of psychiatry, describes a thought process dominated by the self and an inner, private world.
  • It is characterized by egocentrism, fantasizing, and daydreaming, where thoughts are driven by wishes and fantasies rather than external reality.
  • This type of thinking is considered a more primitive form of cognition, similar to what is observed in dreams or in young children.
  • The term aligns directly with the question's description of narcissistic and egocentric thought processes.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option B: Critical thinking is the opposite of the described process. It is objective, analytical, and reality-based, involving the evaluation of facts to form a judgment.
  • Option C: Illogical thinking refers to thought processes that are contradictory or not based on reason. While fantasy can be illogical, the term 'autistic thinking' more specifically captures the egocentric and fantasy-driven nature described.
  • Option D: Logical thinking is structured, coherent, and based on reason and external facts. It is the direct opposite of thinking dominated by internal fantasies and egocentric desires.

Related Visual

A flowchart that contrasts reality-based thinking Logical, Critical with internally-driven thinking Autistic/Fantasy. The chart could show External Stimulus leading to An...
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Types of Thinking in Psychology and Psychiatry as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • In a mental status examination, assessing a patient's thought process is fundamental. Identifying a prevalence of autistic thinking can be a significant finding pointing towards conditions like schizoid personality disorder or schizophrenia.
  • It is important for nurses to differentiate between normal daydreaming, which everyone does, and pathological autistic thinking, which is pervasive and impairs an individual's ability to function in reality.
  • What if? If a patient describes detailed, elaborate fantasies that they prefer over real-life interactions and which cause significant distress or social impairment, the nurse should suspect a potential thought disorder and conduct a more thorough psychiatric assessment.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify the key descriptive words in the question stem: 'narcissistic,' 'egocentric,' 'fantasizing,' and 'daydreaming.'
  • These words point to a thought process that is self-centered and detached from reality.
  • Next, review the definitions of the options provided.
  • Critical and Logical thinking are reality-based and can be eliminated.
  • Illogical thinking is about flawed reasoning, which is related but not the core concept.
  • Autistic thinking, in its psychiatric definition, specifically refers to this self-absorbed, fantasy-driven state.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Types of Thinking in Psychology and Psychiatry
  • Stem keywords: thinking, narcissistic, egocentric, fantasizing, daydreaming
  • Lead-in keywords: is known as
  • Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

QDP3gAH4pQIunIm4Dn7qDl

Reference Book

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) pp. 3792-3794, 3791-3793

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