The Unknown Voice: Narrative and Knowledge among Voice Hearers

• In Event: 322 - Section on Medical Sociology Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 21. Patienthood

Abstract

While research in medical sociology has sought to illuminate the subjective experience of illness, its narration, and its effects on self-concept and biography, the bulk of this work has focused on case studies of chronic illnesses. Some scholars have extended research in this area by attempting to understand the additional challenges and uncertainties faced by individuals diagnosed with so-called “contentious conditions”, as well as those with medically unexplained symptoms. However, few studies have attempted to understand the role and characteristics of illness narratives among people diagnosed with mental disorders. This paper is based on a small-scale qualitative study of individuals in the North East United States who experience auditory hallucinations, including both adults who identify with a psychiatric diagnosis and those who reject a diagnosis but self-identify as voice hearers. The paper describes the narratives offered by these respondents and analyzes how they can supplement our existing understanding of illness narratives more generally. It also attempts to understand how these narratives are intertwined with different forms of knowledge and discourse and their corresponding sites of production and dissemination: popular media, support groups, medical institutions, and religious settings.

Author

• Samuel Joseph Southgate, Yale University