Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 9, 2026
08:01
Virtual Hand with Ambiguous Movement between the Self and Other Origin: Sense of Ownership and 'Other-Produced' Agency
Published on: October 28, 2020
6.0K
Hearing voices and the quest for autonomy: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
Sepinood Noroozi1, Nastaran Doroud2, Eleanor Longden3
1Centre for Mental Health and Brain Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Psychology and Psychotherapy
|December 7, 2025
Summary
People who hear voices continuously negotiate their autonomy, often finding it challenging to maintain self-authorship. Supporting voice hearers in creating meaningful narratives is crucial for strengthening their sense of self-determination and resilience.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Qualitative Research
Background:
- Auditory hallucinations (hearing voices) are frequently perceived as controlling or threatening.
- Understanding the subjective experience of autonomy for voice hearers is essential for therapeutic interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the lived experiences of autonomy among individuals who hear voices.
- To gain insights into how autonomy is negotiated, diminished, and re-established in the context of auditory hallucinations.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative design utilizing in-depth, semi-structured phenomenological interviews.
- Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) applied to data from six voice hearers.
- Focus on personal narratives and meaning-making processes related to autonomy.
Main Results:
- Autonomy is a dynamic process requiring constant negotiation, reflection, and self-regulation.
- Hearing voices challenges selfhood and self-authorship, making narrative construction vital for autonomy.
- Participants described a shared power dynamic with voices and limitations in perceived competence and decision-making.
Conclusions:
- Supporting voice hearers in developing self-oriented narratives is key to enhancing autonomy.
- Future research should focus on strategies for constructive integration of voice-hearing experiences to promote resilience and autonomy.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Self Within Cultural Contexts
185
Cultural frameworks for understanding the self are often categorized into two broad orientations: individualism and collectivism. These paradigms influence how people define themselves, relate to others, and interpret their social worlds. Each orientation offers distinct perspectives on autonomy, responsibility, and the role of the individual within a community.Individualistic CulturesIn individualistic cultures like North America and Western Europe, identity is understood as autonomous and...
185
01:20Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
218
According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group...
218
01:17Auditory Perception
998
The auditory system is essential for sound perception, utilizing various critical structures. When sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the middle ear, where three tiny bones – the malleus, incus, and stapes – amplify the sound. This amplification is crucial, as it ensures that the sound vibrations are strong enough to be conveyed to the inner ear. These vibrations then reach the...
998
01:23Carl Rogers' Humanistic Perspective on Personality
1.9K
Carl Rogers, a key figure in humanistic psychology, believed that individuals possess an innate potential for growth and fulfillment. According to his model of personality, three significant components define an individual: the organism, the self, and conditions of worth.
The organism refers to an individual's inherent blueprint, which Rogers saw as innately positive and directed toward helping others, unlike Freud's view of the id as driven by base impulses. The self is a person's...
The organism refers to an individual's inherent blueprint, which Rogers saw as innately positive and directed toward helping others, unlike Freud's view of the id as driven by base impulses. The self is a person's...
1.9K
02:57The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
55.3K
According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...
55.3K
01:24Humanistic Psychology
2.4K
Humanistic psychology emerged in the mid-20th century as a response to the deterministic and pessimistic nature of behaviorism and psychoanalysis. While behaviorism focused on observable behaviors influenced by the environment and psychoanalysis delved into unconscious motivations, both theories suggested that human actions lacked free will. In contrast, humanistic psychology offers a perspective that emphasizes the innate potential for goodness and growth within every individual.
This approach...
This approach...
2.4K