Final answer:
Samson's belief that he has been elected as the President is an example of a Delusion, a Positive symptom of schizophrenia, and it is reflective of the complex manifestations of the illness that involves disruptions in thinking and perception.
Step-by-step explanation:
The behavior described in Samson's case is an example of a Delusion, which is a type of Positive symptom of schizophrenia.
Delusions represent a fixed and false belief that is resistant to reasoning or confrontation with actual fact, often occurring as part of psychopathology, like schizophrenia. In Samson's case, the conviction of having been elected President despite evidence to the contrary indicates a delusional belief rather than a hallucination, which would involve a perceptual experience without an external stimulus (e.g., hearing voices or seeing things that aren't there).
This is not merely an erratic claim, but rather a symptom indicative of schizophrenia, which involves various complex disruptions in thinking and perception. Positive symptoms characteristically include such delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech or behaviors that add to the person's personality, unlike negative symptoms which result in losses or deficits, such as lack of emotion or motivation. Recognizing this as a delusion is crucial for diagnosis and treatment, typically involving the use of antipsychotic medications that target neurotransmitter systems like dopamine.