Anderson Cooper tries a schizophrenia simulator

Summary

The video depicts an unsettling experiment where a subject is subjected to a barrage of auditory disturbances, including whispers, negative criticisms, and distracting voices, while attempting various tasks. As the subject struggles to focus and perform, the voices exacerbate their frustration and isolation, creating a profound sense of mental stress. The emotional toll of constant external chatter—sometimes comforting, often critical—is explored, highlighting the psychological strain of being unable to escape these overwhelming internal and external voices. The experiment underscores the profound impact of auditory disruptions on concentration and emotional well-being.

Takeaways

• 😀 The subject begins the test while hearing disturbing whispers and voices in their head.
• 😀 The voices vary in tone, from critical and aggressive to comforting and neutral, adding confusion and difficulty to the task.
• 😀 The subject struggles to focus on a simple cognitive test due to constant interruptions by the voices.
• 😀 When asked basic questions like the date or to recall numbers, the subject is unable to perform well due to distraction.
• 😀 The voices continuously criticize and belittle the subject's efforts, making it difficult to concentrate or perform tasks.
• 😀 The subject feels overwhelmed by the constant mental barrage, describing the experience as incredibly isolating and depressing.
• 😀 They express an urge to respond to the voices but know that engaging with them would only make things worse.
• 😀 The subject finds it extremely challenging to perform simple tasks like folding an origami boat due to the mental chaos caused by the voices.
• 😀 The experience of hearing these voices feels like being constantly judged by an unseen audience, leading to self-doubt and frustration.
• 😀 The subject emphasizes the emotional toll of auditory hallucinations, describing the process as mentally draining and eye-opening for those who haven't experienced it.

Q & A

What is the main challenge faced by the subject in this experiment?

The main challenge faced by the subject is concentrating on the cognitive tasks while being constantly distracted by negative and intrusive voices in their head. The voices range from whispers to aggressive criticisms, which make it difficult to focus on the tasks at hand.

How does the subject describe the experience of hearing the voices?

The subject describes the voices as unsettling and distracting. The voices are sometimes whispering, sometimes aggressive, and occasionally comforting. They comment on everything the subject does, often criticizing their actions, which creates a sense of isolation and frustration.

What tasks does the subject struggle with during the experiment?

The subject struggles with simple cognitive tasks such as repeating a series of numbers, recalling the date, and naming the last four U.S. presidents. The constant negative commentary from the voices makes these tasks much harder to complete.

What effect do the voices have on the subject's ability to perform the tasks?

The voices disrupt the subject's concentration and make it almost impossible to complete tasks accurately. The constant barrage of negative remarks affects the subject’s cognitive abilities, making them forget details and feel incompetent, despite their best efforts.

How does the subject react to the voices during the experiment?

The subject frequently expresses frustration and a desire to respond to the voices, telling them to be quiet or stop. However, they realize that engaging with the voices would only make it more difficult to focus, adding to the emotional distress.

What psychological impact does the subject report from the experiment?

The subject reports feeling extremely negative and isolated, describing the experience as depressing. The voices create a sense of emotional weight and frustration, leading the subject to feel mentally exhausted and mentally drained.

What is the subject’s reaction when the experiment finally ends?

The subject expresses a deep sense of relief when the experiment ends and they are able to remove the headphones. They describe the experience as 'eye-opening,' acknowledging how difficult it must be for people who deal with similar auditory hallucinations on a regular basis.

What does the subject say about how the voices affect their perception of reality?

The subject feels like they are being constantly watched by a 'chorus' of voices, commenting on every action they take. This creates an overwhelming sense of paranoia and confusion, blurring the lines between their thoughts and the voices in their head.

How does the subject describe the emotional tone of the voices?

The subject describes the voices as having a mix of tones. Sometimes they are aggressive and critical, sometimes they are comforting or neutral, but overall, they are intrusive and emotionally draining, contributing to a sense of negativity and hopelessness.

What can be inferred about the impact of auditory hallucinations on daily life?

The experiment highlights how auditory hallucinations can severely impact one's ability to focus and perform daily tasks. Constant negative commentary from voices can lead to heightened stress, emotional distress, and a feeling of isolation, making it challenging to live a normal life.