AP41155

Science Summary- The Voices of Schizophrenia Outside of the US Schizophrenia is defined as a severe psychological disorder characterized by loss of contact with reality, hallucinations, delusions, inappropriate or flat affect, some disturbance in thinking, social withdrawal, and/or other bizarre behavior. (Mastering the world of psychology p.394) In the article ‘The voices heard by people with schizophrenia are friendlier in India and Africa, than in the US’ Tanya Luhrmann and her colleagues investigate sixty individuals with schizophrenia; twenty from the US (California,) twenty from Ghana, and twenty in Chennai India. California individuals were reported to have had negative, frightening, and disturbing experiences including their voices telling them to kill themselves or others. While in Chennai India, their experiences were rather positive. Some reported that their relationship with their voices was heard as relatives or friends who often offered advice and instead of orders of committing violent acts they spoke about sex. As for Ghana, it was reported that individuals heard God. Despite the fact the three areas tested were rather religious; results from the rest of the interviewees had also positive experiences as well. Luhrmann found that the Western cultures had less harsh experiences due to the culture emphasizing individuality and independence. In conclusion, Luhrmann’s investigation proved somewhat those countries outside of the US with schizophrenia individuals had heard friendlier voices. I believe that more testing needs to be done in perhaps Asian and European cultures and maybe more areas in the United States in order to further prove this hypothesis.

References: Boyd, Denise. "Schizophrenia." By Samuel E. Wood and Ellen Green Wood. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 394+. Print

"The Voices Heard by People with Schizophrenia Are Friendlier in India and Africa, than in the US." //BPS Research Digest://. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 July 2014.

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