The complex interaction between religion conversion, technology, and psychopathology

Abstract

Religion is an abstract concept encompassing specific set of organized beliefs and practices, usually shared by a community or group, whereas spirituality is more of an individual practice dealing with having a sense of peace and purpose. Religion and psychiatric illness too share a complex relationship and intent for religious conversions pose a diagnostic dilemma in many cases. This relationship is further being influenced by easy access to social media and excessive smartphone use in the contemporary world. Here, we discuss two cases of young males who presented to us with intense desire to change their religion (interest generated after watching YouTube videos and listening to speeches on the smartphone), consequently leading to interpersonal problems and psychopathology. The management approach highlights the need to identify the intent and knowledge for religious change, differentiate individual preferences from that of the family/society, avoiding misdiagnosis and focusing on symptom resolution and improving functionality.

Keywords

• conversion
• media use
• psychopathology
• religion