The voices of madness
Terrain January 1, 2022 DOI: 10.4000/terrain.23459 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe phenomenology of psychosis is notoriously difficult to grasp. This paper presents a case study of psychotic voices in which neither words nor voice proper figures prominently. It reflects on the strangeness of these experiences and points to central features of voice-hearing: not-me-ness, a different realness, and presence. When madness begins, it can feel like grace or art, making the dull everyday become iridescent; people sense wild swans, floating angels, and other phenomena.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Humanities Art |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key finding | Psychotic voice-hearing can involve experiences without words or voice proper, characterized by not-me-ness, a different realness, and presence. |
Abstract
The phenomenology of psychosis is notoriously difficult to grasp. I offer here a case study of psychotic voices in which neither words nor voice proper figures prominently. I reflect on the strangeness of these experiences, and then point to the features of voice-hearing which I take to be of central importance: not-me-ness, a different realness, and presence. When it begins, madness can feel like grace, or art. The dull everyday becomes iridescent. People sense wild swans, floating angels, s...