Listening to those who hear voices

Abstract

Phenomenon of the hearing voices is considered to be one of the major symptoms of schizophrenia and that it is divorced from the life context of the person. I argue that this phenomenon is not per se a problem or part of the mental health issues, but that can be understood in the context of the life narrative of the person and their intersubjective experience. This research looks into narratives of the three people that have diagnosis of schizophrenia that hears voices as well. Hearing voices phenomenon can be understood as meaningful even in the extreme experience like psychosis. Informers presented here experienced hearing voices in the different way because phenomenology of their experience is different. They also have different explanatory models that they are using in understanding this experience that is connected with their intersubjective experience and social dynamics. Hearing voices, and psychosis, are a life changing experiences that has a great impact on person´s identity as well.