Voices in Psychosis
Hilary Powell
Voices in Psychosis September 8, 2022 DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780192898388.003.0011 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the dark, silhouetted voices reported by contemporary voice-hearers resemble the demonic forms in medieval saints' lives and mystical accounts, and proposes that scholarship move beyond merely noting similarities and differences toward a more mutually enhancing, potentially transformative dialogue between past and present. |
Abstract
Abstract: Reading the transcripts of phenomenological interviews with voice-hearers, one is left with a composite image of dark, silhouetted ‘voices’, ‘mooching’ in doorways with holes for faces. They whisper, scold, and insult the voice-hearer, eroding their trust in themselves and their self-worth and, in several cases, persuading the voice-hearer to self-harm. These shadowy and dangerous figures are evocative of the demonic forms found in medieval saints’ lives and accounts of mystical experiences. But how can we ensure that the conversation between past and present moves beyond the small talk of similarities and differences towards a weightier, more mutually enhancing, even transformative conversation?