Oldal 74 [74]
72 a USING INTERPRETATIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
»lt’s not that I, that I was totally incapable (laughing) of functioning, but I had
problems, and because of that I didn’t have a harmonic relationship with the
outside world’ (Ivan).
5.4. DISCUSSION
This study investigated the voice hearing experiences of individuals using the
IPA data analysis method. IPA is often used to analyse the experience of voice
hearers because it is applicable for research on complex and dynamic topics
(Chin et al., 2009; Mawson et al., 2011; Milligan, McCarthy-Jones, Winthrop,
& Dudley, 2012; Rosen et al., 2015; Smith et al., 2009). This study focused on
how the recovery and self-help group experiences impacted the voice and the
self, the change and the process of learning to coexist with the voices. Four
master themes were identified: (1) the role of the voice; (2) the relation-ship
between the voice and ‘T; (3) the role of the self-help group and (4) the role
of the voice hearing method.
Existing studies of voice hearers are typically interpret and identify the
voices. Both in recent studies and in this study, the voices have a different
status and meaning for the hearer and the identification is different. The re¬
lationship with the voice is not static, but is dynamic as Milligan and col¬
leagues (2012) have argued. The meaning can change with the help of the
self-help group’ different external stories, as well as with combating the con¬
dition. Finding the proper explanation has an important role in reducing
anxiety and regaining control (Newton et al., 2007). Rosen and colleagues
(2015) found that when hearers recognised real (e.g. family members’) voices,
they felt more ability to influence the voices. The personalisation makes it
possible for the relationship between the voice and the self to be analysed
using interpersonal relationship rules (Paulik, 2012). Hayward and colleagues
(2013) emphasise that the voice hearer has to break the complementary role
in the voice hearer relationship in order to end the voices control over the
self. This complementary relationship was identified through the symmetric
and asymmetric relationships discussed in this study. Participants broke the
voices control by applying the voice hearing method. The hearer changes the
relationship with the voice and its role and position by giving anti-comple¬
mentary replies (i.e. asking the question or having a conversation) (Hayward
et al., 2013).
Examining the position of voices, two types could be discriminated; the
hearers’ regard the source of the voice internal or external. Newton and col¬
leagues (2007) connected understanding the source of the voice and role with
the agency-based explanations in psychotherapy. The passive (non-agency)
explanation of the voice and the self-relationship is that the source of the voice