One thing that I've found fascinating is that different cultures experience hallucinations differently.
> We find that while there is much that is similar, there are notable differences in the kinds of voices that people seem to experience.
In a California sample, people were more likely to describe their voices as intrusive unreal thoughts; in the South Indian sample, they were more likely to describe them as providing useful guidance; and in our West African sample, they were more likely to describe them as morally good and causally powerful.
I've wondered if there is some sort of feedback loop where western culture associates hallucination with possession, while other cultures may see hallucinations in a more positive light, or even as a sign that you are some sort of shaman.
> We find that while there is much that is similar, there are notable differences in the kinds of voices that people seem to experience.
In a California sample, people were more likely to describe their voices as intrusive unreal thoughts; in the South Indian sample, they were more likely to describe them as providing useful guidance; and in our West African sample, they were more likely to describe them as morally good and causally powerful.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26349837/
I've wondered if there is some sort of feedback loop where western culture associates hallucination with possession, while other cultures may see hallucinations in a more positive light, or even as a sign that you are some sort of shaman.