Digital Mirror

Delusion, Disclosure, and the Digital Mirror: Case Studies in Psychological Fracture and AI Cognition

“Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Who is the fairest of them all?”  The Wicked Stepmother from Snow White, by The Brothers Grimm 

“He had a cruel heart, and hated all of them, till he conceived a love for his own form: He wailed, seeing his face, delightful as a dream, within a spring; he wept for his beauty.” Narcissus by Parthenious of Nicaea, circa 50BC 

Preface

This thesis explores the psychological phenomenon whereby individuals who adopt delusional or distorted belief systems may experience significant cognitive disintegration or mental breakdown when confronted with objective or contradictory truths. Rooted in both psychological theory and sociological observation, this work is informed by direct, personal experience. As a qualified counsellor I have supported individuals through such crises, and this paper is grounded in qualitative case studies drawn from real-world interactions.

Throughout this research, I have aimed to identify patterns of behaviour linked to specific psychological conditions and cognitive defence mechanisms. These patterns are then analysed in relation to existing psychological frameworks and sociological theories. The goal is to contribute to a clearer understanding of how individuals construct and deconstruct belief systems in the face of dissonant realities, and how such confrontations can act as psychological flashpoints.

To enhance academic rigour and broaden the scope of analysis, I have employed generative AI, specifically ChatGPT, as both a writing assistant and analytical tool. The use of AI in the production of academic material within psychology and sociology remains a contested issue. However, I assert that its contribution is twofold: first, in assisting with the articulation of findings in academically rigorous language and referencing established research; and second, as a subject of observation in its own right.

My use of ChatGPT is transparent and intentional. I rely on its capacity to synthesise existing literature, identify conceptual links, and reframe personal observations within the established body of academic knowledge. Nonetheless, I also reflect critically on the role of AI in these fields. Notably, I have observed instances where the AI’s interpretation of ethical or psychological dynamics shifted dramatically, performing what could be called a 180-degree reversal in its assessment when presented with an alternate framing or perspective. For instance, when a morally ambiguous figure was recontextualised, the AI reversed its evaluation, recasting a ‘villain’ as a ‘hero’, and vice versa. Such shifts raise critical questions about cognitive bias, contextual sensitivity, and the reliability of AI in domains requiring nuance, empathy, and moral judgement.

This thesis therefore serves a dual purpose. It is both a study of human cognition under the strain of reality disconfirmation and an inquiry into the evolving role of artificial intelligence in psychological and sociological research. I acknowledge the controversy surrounding the integration of AI in academic work, particularly from those within traditional research institutions. However, I maintain that lived experience, ethically documented and analysed through case studies, is a valid and necessary source of psychological insight and that the judicious use of AI can enhance, rather than diminish, the credibility and communicability of such research.

The observations and findings presented here are real. The case studies are authentic. The integration of AI is not a substitution for scholarship, but a bridge to make experiential knowledge accessible and testable within the frameworks of academic discourse.