Abnormal studies Flashcards
(1 cards)
Luhrmann
Aim: To investigate and compare the characteristics and interpretations of auditory hallucinations (hearing voices) experienced by individuals with schizophrenia across different cultures.
Method: Researchers conducted structured interviews with a sample of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia from the United States, India, and Ghana, inquiring about the nature, familiarity, impact, and perceived causes of their voices.
Results: While some commonalities existed, significant cross-cultural differences emerged, particularly in the positivity and violence of voices, their familiarity, the reporting of hearing God, and the attributed causes (biological/psychiatric in the US vs. relational in non-Western samples).
Conclusion: The study suggests that the distressing, violent nature of voices commonly reported in the Western experience of schizophrenia is not inevitable, and fostering engagement and connection with voices could potentially lead to a less frightening experience for individuals.
