Phenomenology of voice-hearing

Abstract

The purpose of this empirical study was to collect information on the prevalence and phenomenology of the experience of hearing voices that are heard only by the person, and not by others around. Data was collected through an Internet survey, to which we invited students of various study programs at eight faculties at three universities in Slovenia. Surveys were completed by a sample of 670 persons, predominantly women, especially students of social sciences study programmes in the first half of their twenties. While 45.7% of respondents reported having an experience of hearing voices, we found that for 13.5% of all who responded to our survey it is a relatively common experience (ie not just a single or double experience), and for these respondents they were referring not only to the hearing of their own thoughts. The majority of the voice-hearers welcomed their voices and accepted them positively; only 12% of voice-hearers experienced them as uncomfortable and would like to get rid of them. 7% of voicehearers have already sought help or would like to get it. The starting points for this study are derived from the theoretical, empirical and treatment tradition, represented by the international movement »hearing voices«. Starting from its empirical findings, the study advocates the normalisation of attitudes towards hearing voices and the development of treatment approaches which would accept hearing voices as a meaningful experience, and establish a useful starting point for working with voice-hearers.