On the Origin of the "Influencing Machine" in Schizophrenia

The "Influencing Machine" is an idea about how schizophrenia can be caused. It is based on the idea that people who have schizophrenia feel that their thoughts and feelings are being controlled by an outside force. This outside force is sometimes imagined as a machine that can control their thoughts and feelings. In some cases, people with schizophrenia may feel as if they are being controlled by this “influencing machine” instead of their own minds or by other people.