The Magical Ideation Scale (Eckblad and Chapman, 1983), assesses for “incorrect” beliefs, which are said to be able to tell if someone is predisposed to psychosis and/or schizophrenia. The Perceptual Aberration questionnaire, generally accompanies the MIS, and is specifically used to surface psychotic-like experiences. The two lists of statements have been implemented globally, in different variations, generally to diagnose patients while few or no symptoms are showing, during what is known as the “prodromal” stage. Not only are these psychiatric tools used to pathologize imagination and ways of thinking, they criminalize magic-believing and spiritual people. Regardless of diagnosis, the MIS and Perceptual Aberration tests have the long-term effect of pushing people to believe their own minds are dangerous, making them fear and surveil themselves. Among other things, the combination of mass fear and confusion as well as a loss of mind-body connection allows for power abuse to be perpetuated through the psychiatric system.
Using Zoom as a virtual space, I use the MIS and Perceptual Aberration questions as an interactive role-play between the clinical, the technical, the bodily, and the imagined. I am interested in how Zoom, as a platform and social experience, relates to psychiatric methodologies by shrinking people into “boxes”, literally and metaphorically, and eliminating regard for the body. Elements such as communication and power are exposed through actions like muting audio, shutting off video, and recording functions. Post-questionnaire, the constant surveillance, via continuous recording and inaccessible questioner/doctor presence, mirrors the lingering effects after taking the tests, regardless of diagnosis. Within the fear, groupthink, and confusion that may arise, I hope that taking these tools out of context will educate, generate wonder, and ultimately surface commonalities while ridiculing psychiatric tactics.
1. I have sometimes had the feeling that my body is decaying inside.
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2. Sometimes I hear unusual sounds like ringing in my ears.
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3. I hold some beliefs that other people would find unusual or bizarre.
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4. I have had the sense that some person or force is around me, although I couldn’t see them.
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5. Sometimes I feel like I am not in control of your own ideas or thoughts.
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6. I sometimes have difficulty getting my point across, because I ramble or go off the track a lot when I talk.
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7. Sometimes I don’t just feel good, but better than good.
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8. I have found myself feeling mistrustful or suspicious of other people.
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9.Sometimes when I look at things like tables and chairs, they seem strange.
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10. I have been confused whether something I experienced was real or imaginary.
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11. My hearing is sometimes so sensitive that ordinary sounds become uncomfortable.
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12. Sometimes I feel like people are watching me or talking about me.
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13. Sometimes I have had the feeling that I am united with an object near me.
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14. I have sometimes felt that some part of my body no longer belongs to me.
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15. My hands or feet seem to change size sometimes.
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16. Occasionally it has seemed as if my body has taken on the appearance of another person’s body.
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17. Sometimes I see things that other people cannot see.
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18. Sometimes familiar surroundings sometimes seem strange, confusing, threatening or unreal.
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19. Sometimes i feel like I have a special power, or unusual talent.
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20. Sometimes my thoughts are so strong that I can almost hear them.
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21. I have had experiences with telepathy, psychic forces, or fortune telling.
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22. Things that you see appear different from the way they usually do.
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23. Have you seen things that other people don't seem to see?
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24. Do people sometimes find it hard to understand what you are saying?