Fear and Fragility The Glass Delusion and Its History
In early modern Europe, around the time when lenses began to bring the world (and heavens) into newfound focus, patients started appearing in medical records with a particular ailment: a firm belief that they were made of glass. Tamara Sanderson investigates the source and manifestation of this delusion, and finds a psychological idiom that onc...
The glass delusion offers a fascinating lens into how cultural and material conditions shape expressions of psychological distress. At its core, the phenomenon reflects a societal need for metaphors that can articulate vulnerability in ways that are both recognizable and exempting. The delusion's rise during a period of technological advancement—particularly the development of clear glass—suggests that new materials can become powerful symbols for the fragility of the human condition. The cases ...