Hearing voices is an important aspect of many people’s lives. It is an experience that can be distressing and upsetting, but also positive and meaningful.
We seek to provide a better understanding of this experience by examining it from different academic perspectives and working with voice-hearers, clinicians and mental health professionals.
About Us
Hearing the Voice is a large interdisciplinary study of voice-hearing, based at Durham University and funded by the Wellcome Trust.
Our international research team includes academics from anthropology, cognitive neuroscience, history, linguistics, literary studies, medical humanities, philosophy, psychology and theology. We also work closely with clinicians, voice-hearers and other experts by experience.
In addition to shedding light on the relations between hearing voices and everyday processes of sensory perception, memory, language and creativity, we are exploring why it is that some voices (and not others) are experienced as distressing, how they can change across the life course, and the ways in which voices can act as important social, cultural and political forces.
Find Out More
HEARING VOICES
VISIT OUR EXHIBITION
UNDERSTANDING VOICES
VISIT OUR NEW SITE FOR THOSE WHO HEAR VOICES, THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Highlights from the Blog
‘Majority of authors “hear” their characters speak, finds study’: Hearing the Voice in The Guardian
We’re delighted to announce the publication of a new article on our study of writers’ inner voices and literary creativity in The Guardian.
Knowledge is Power: Helping people who hear voices to feel more empowered and overcome stigma
In collaboration with Rai Waddingham, Hearing the Voice are offering free workshops in Glasgow and London, which will explore the way in which we can use information and resources to help people distressed by their voices feel more empowered and reduce internalised stigma.
Keep in Touch
If you would like to keep up to date with the progress of Hearing the Voice research and receive information about forthcoming events and activities, sign up for our bi-monthly e-bulletin.
