How are hallucinations defined in psychology?

Hallucinations are fundamentally defined as perceptions occurring in the absence of an external stimulus, which can occur due to various factors including altered mental status. This indicates that individuals experiencing hallucinations may perceive things that are not present in their environment, such as hearing voices or seeing objects that do not exist. This definition aligns closely with clinical understandings of hallucinations, particularly in the context of mental health disorders.

While some other options touch on important aspects of perception and cognition, they do not accurately encapsulate the essence of hallucinations as recognized in psychological practice. Misinterpretations of real external stimuli might describe a different phenomenon, such as a delusion or misperception, rather than the sensory experience of a hallucination. Similarly, experiences linked to sensory input are broader and could refer to typical observations, not specifically to hallucinations that are devoid of actual sensory stimuli. Lastly, memories mixed with imagined events are more aligned with confabulation or fantasy rather than the direct sensory perceptions seen in hallucinations.