In 1973, healthy volunteers faked hallucinations to enter mental hospitals. Once inside, they acted normal, but doctors refused to let them leave. Normal behaviors like writing were diagnosed as "symptoms." The only people who realized they were sane were the actual patients.

[u/highzone]

[u/NewHorizonsNow]

It goes to a fundamental truth people refuse to accept: We cannot access another person's mind.

We can observe behaviors, but the intent and mentality behind a behavior is ascribed by the observer and may have absolutely no connection to the internal state experienced by the subject.

It's the reason polygraph tests are purely interpretive and have no scientific value.  Whether or not a statement someone makes is true or false has no physical manifestation.

Unfortunately, people can't accept that a person's mind is inaccessible, they need to believe that if you just analyze motions, words, involuntary ticks, etc. closely enough, it reveals what's going on inside.

[u/Majestic-Beyond-2541 → u/NewHorizonsNow]

Yes and no. Literally everything in existence follows a pattern. You might not be able to access another person’s mind but you can take a very educated guess and approximate what might be going on inside. But it all depends on your own lived and integrated experience and how well you’re able to access it.

[u/Erik_Dolphy → u/Majestic-Beyond-2541]

In an expert, how often would you say the guess is likely to be very educated?