When Hearing Voices Is a Good Thing
Luhrmann and her colleagues chalked up the differences in how the voices were perceived to distinct societal values. Americans desire individuality and independence, and the voices were seen as an intrusion into a self-made mind. Eastern and African cultures, meanwhile, tend to emphasize relationships and collectivism. There, a hallucination was more likely to be seen as just another point in the schizophrenic person’s already extensive social network.
.. Luhrmann says she thinks her insights might help in the development of new therapies for schizophrenia sufferers the world over. There’s no cure for schizophrenia, but some therapies urge patients to develop relationships with their hallucinated voices and to negotiate with them.