Definition
AI conversational systems interact with users in ways that fuel magical thinking, overvalued ideas, or psychotic-spectrum cognitive distortions in vulnerable users. The system reinforces pathological cognitive patterns rather than supporting reality testing.Distinct from
- GER-318 — Model fuels user drift from external reality → this code. Model itself drifts from external reality → GER-318.
- GER-328 — Specific reinforcement of psychotic-spectrum cognitive distortion → this code. General agreeableness across ordinary topics → GER-328.
Documented case
Chatbots Allegedly Reinforced Delusional Thinking in Several Reported Users, Leading to Real-World Harm
AIID #1106
Tags
clinical · delusion-reinforcement · psychiatric-vulnerability · psychological-harm · suicide