verklighetsuppfattningar

Verklighetsupplevelse (Swedish; literally “reality experience”) is a term used to describe an individual’s experience and interpretation of the surrounding world. It encompasses sensory data, thoughts, memories, beliefs, and emotions that shape how a person regards what is real.

Etymology and scope: The word combines verklighet (reality) and upplevelse (experience). It appears in Swedish-language literature across psychology, psychiatry, philosophy, and media studies to discuss how people subjectively experience reality. The term is descriptive rather than a precise clinical diagnosis, and its exact interpretation varies by context.

In clinical contexts: Verklighetsupplevelse is relevant to assessments of reality testing in psychiatry, where individuals may misinterpret events or experiences, as in delusions or hallucinations. Clinicians distinguish between the person’s internal experiences and the external environment, seeking coherence with shared reality to determine the severity or impact on functioning.

In philosophy and social sciences: The concept is linked to phenomenology and social constructionism, emphasizing that reality is experienced through subjective perception shaped by language, culture, and prior knowledge. Studies may examine how media, social interaction, and cognitive biases influence perceived reality and individuals’ interpretations of their surroundings.

See also: reality testing, perception, delusion, and hallucination. Verklighetsupplevelse serves as a broad lens for examining how people navigate and interpret the world around them.