![]() as a way of communicating with deities or the dead. ![]() On the contrary, voice-hearing may often be experienced in positive terms – e.g. ![]() In collectivistic cultures in which people see themselves as connected to metaphysical entities, define themselves in terms of their relationships with others, and see their characteristics as changing across different contexts, hearing voices may not be considered a problem to the same extent as it is in Western contexts. Voice-hearing is a feature of human experience that crosses cultures, continents and historical periods. However, the classification of voice hearers as mentally ill is neither an objective nor universal notion. Indeed, hearing voices is one of the most common symptoms of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and psychosis. The intrusion of another person’s voice into the individual’s head does not fit well with this individualistic concept of the self and is, therefore, one of the reasons why it is often associated with mental illness. ‘Normal’ individuals are expected to see themselves as separate from others, define themselves based on their personal traits, and see their characteristics as relatively unchanging. Hearing things that others do not, clashes with individualistic values such as independence and rationality. Today, voice hearers are often stigmatized in the West. For others, they are critical or may even encourage harmful behavior. For some, the voices are neutral or complimentary. The experience of hearing voices may differ significantly in terms of intensity and frequency from person to person. Hearing voices that cannot be heard by others is an auditory hallucination experienced by between 5% and 28% of the general population in the UK. Initiatives that allow voice hearers to discuss and define their voice-hearing in more positive terms can help reduce stigma. The negative connotations of hearing voices are not universal and do not necessarily reflect the experiences of voice hearers. In Western cultural contexts, hearing voices is often associated with mental illness. Up to 28% of the general UK population experiences auditory hallucinations.
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