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Posted Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:04:13
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*British Sociological Association*
*London Medical Sociology Group Meeting*
*Wednesday 9th Dec **6pm*
*
*
*Julie Kirby - Edge Hill University
Voice-hearing, in medical terms 'auditory hallucination': a
situated, intercational approach
***
**
*Abstract:
*
Voice-hearing, or in medical terms 'auditory hallucination', is a
cross cultural phenomenon in terms of time and geography.
Written accounts of voice-hearing date back to at least 400 BC
(Leudar and Thomas, 2000), and has been described within religious,
psychological, fictional and mythical frames of reference (Heery
1989). Voice-hearing can be a distressing experience for some
voice-hearers, whilst for others it can be an enriching,
life-enhancing experience (Romme and Escher, 1994). The phenomenon
remains poorly understood (Grierson 1994; Watkins, 1998), and this
has produced challenges for the development of therapeutic
intervention for distressed voice-hearers. This paper gives an
overview of findings from a recently completed qualitative PhD study
that explored the phenomenon of voice-hearing from the perspective
of those who experience it.
The purpose of the study was to explore the impact of situational
processes/factors on shaping personal experiences of the
phenomenon. The theoretical framework drew upon feminist theory and
the work of American Pragmatist Philosopher G.H. Mead who developed
a situated interactional approach to understanding the
interdependent nature of the relationship between individuals and
society. Within this approach, the situated body precedes the later
emergence of mind and self; an ongoing interactional cognitive
process located within the flux of ongoing social activity.
Sixty-two self selected voice- hearers were recruited to participate
in the study through an advertisement placed in mainstream media
publications and the National Hearing Voices Network. Given that
not all voice-hearers come to the attention of mental health care
services, participating voice-hearers included mental health care
services users, ex-service users and voice-hearers who had never
sought out mental health care intervention. The research
questions, data generation tools and methods were developed in
collaboration with voice-hearers. The findings suggest that situated
interactional processes/factors underlie the participants'
commonality as voice-hearers as well differences between them in
terms of their personal experiences of the phenomenon. The
findings also suggest that experiences of voice-hearing do not
remain static, but are influenced by ongoing interactions within the
lives of each voice-hearer.
*
Venue*
King's College London
Franklin Wilkins Building
Room 1.16
Stamford Street
London SE1 8WA
nearest train/tube station: Waterloo
*Everyone is welcome to attend the LMSG meeting. The group has no formal membership.
*
The BSA is a Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England and
Wales. Company Number: 3890729. Registered Charity Number 1080235
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