Media depictions of auditory verbal hallucinations

What is it about?

The news media tend to present a misleading view of auditory verbal hallucinations. These depictions are not consistent with the recent research literature, which demonstrates that hallucinatory experiences of this type occur in people who are psychologically healthy as well as in people diagnosed with mental illness.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Because many mass shootings in recent years have been perpetrated by people who are psychotic (and who often experience auditory verbal hallucinations), there is public interest in the phenomenon of hallucinations. However, public perceptions of the phenomenon, which tend to be guided by media depictions, are likely to be inaccurate.