Glossary of Technical Terms 819
compulsion Repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand wash ing, ordering, checking) or mental
acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating word s silently) that the individual feels driven
to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rig-
idly. The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or redu cing anxiety or dis-
tress, or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or
mental acts are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutral-
ize or prevent or are clearly excessive.
conversion symptom A loss of, or alteration in, voluntary motor or sensory functioning,
with or without apparent impairment of consciousness. The symptom is not fully ex-
plained by a neurological or another medical condition or the direct effects of a sub-
stance and is not intentiona lly produced or feigned.
deceitfulness Dishonesty and fraudulence; misrep resentation of self; embellishment or
fabrication when relating even ts. Deceitfulness is a facet of the broad personality trait
domain A NTAGONISM .
defense mechanism Mechanisms that mediate the indi vidual´s reaction to emotional
conflicts and to external stressors. Some defense mechanisms (e.g., projection, splitting,
acting out) are almost invariably maladapt ive. Others (e.g., suppression, denial) may
be either maladaptive or adaptive, dependin g on their severity, their inflexibility, and
the context in which they occur.
delusion A false belief based on incorrect inferenc e about external reality that is firmly
held despite what almost everyone else beli eves and despite what constitutes incontro-
vertible and obvious proof or evidence to th e contrary. The belief is not ordinarily ac-