What are hallucinations?

Hallucinations are defined as sensory perceptions that occur without the presence of external stimuli. This means that a person experiencing hallucinations perceives things, such as sounds, sights, or sensations, that are not actually there. Hallucinations can affect any of the senses—visual (seeing things that aren’t there), auditory (hearing voices), olfactory (smelling things that are not present), gustatory (tasting things), or tactile (feeling sensations on the skin). This definition emphasizes the disconnect between perception and reality, which is a key characteristic of hallucinations.

The other options reflect different phenomena: distorted understandings of real events relate to cognitive distortions, false beliefs based on fear characterize delusions, and emotional reactions to stressful stimuli involve affective responses rather than sensory misperceptions. Each of these terms describes different psychological experiences which are distinct from the nature of hallucinations.