Hmm. This could finally explain a mystery for me regarding my mother. I think she believes that her ancestors talk to her, and I could never reconcile this with the fact that in all other ways, she’s a very rational, non-superstitious and pragmatic person.
When I was about 4 -- barely talking because my family was bilingual and I’m less adept at language anyway—I told my mother I saw ‘people’ on my eyes. I meant that scratches in my eyes looked like people. To my astonishment, she seemed very happy and started including me in conversations with invisible people. My dad found out and put a stop to it, but I’ve always wondered about it.
Six years ago at my wedding, I overheard my mother talking about the ancestors with her sister. I decided it was some kind of family delusion. Maybe it’s a genetic trait I didn’t inherit.
Interesting. But note: Jaynes sayes that it’s mainly enculturation that determines whether the tendency to hear voices is suppressed or not, so there are both genetic and cultural influences. ETA: He says that it’s a latent tendency in everyone, thus genetic, but is revealed or not depending on upbringing.
Hmm. This could finally explain a mystery for me regarding my mother. I think she believes that her ancestors talk to her, and I could never reconcile this with the fact that in all other ways, she’s a very rational, non-superstitious and pragmatic person.
When I was about 4 -- barely talking because my family was bilingual and I’m less adept at language anyway—I told my mother I saw ‘people’ on my eyes. I meant that scratches in my eyes looked like people. To my astonishment, she seemed very happy and started including me in conversations with invisible people. My dad found out and put a stop to it, but I’ve always wondered about it.
Six years ago at my wedding, I overheard my mother talking about the ancestors with her sister. I decided it was some kind of family delusion. Maybe it’s a genetic trait I didn’t inherit.
Interesting. But note: Jaynes sayes that it’s mainly enculturation that determines whether the tendency to hear voices is suppressed or not, so there are both genetic and cultural influences. ETA: He says that it’s a latent tendency in everyone, thus genetic, but is revealed or not depending on upbringing.
Huh. If this is a thing, it could explain some stories of the “second sight” being passed down through families.
Or maybe ghosts are just real. That also explains the facts.