Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Practice

What is a hallucination?

1. A shared perception of reality

2. A sensation without a basis in reality

3. A false belief regarding reality

4. A physical ailment

The correct answer is: A sensation without a basis in reality

A hallucination is defined as a sensation that occurs without any external stimulus, meaning it does not have a basis in reality. This can involve seeing, hearing, feeling, or even tasting things that are not actually present. Hallucinations can be vivid and feel real to the individual experiencing them, even though they do not correspond to anything in the external world. In contrast, a shared perception of reality refers to a consensual understanding or acknowledgment of a situation by multiple individuals, which is not applicable to hallucinations as they are subjective experiences. A false belief regarding reality, known as a delusion, involves a firm conviction in something that is not true but does not pertain to sensory experiences. Lastly, while a physical ailment concerns bodily health issues, it does not encompass the psychological or perceptual phenomena described by hallucinations. Therefore, understanding hallucinations hinges fundamentally on their nature as sensations devoid of external reality, making the definition of a sensation without a basis in reality the most accurate description.