523). The voices that schizophrenics hear might indeed persuade them to commit criminal and even violent acts, and the delusions of persecution might also lead to such behaviors when schizophrenics encounter individuals that they believe to be "enemies" within their framework of delusion (Hirsch & Weinberger 2003, pp. 25-7).

In addition to these rather extreme symptoms of schizophrenia, other milder signs often accompany the disorder and can appear as precursors to the full blown development of the disorder. An emotional "flatness" or lack of response to normal emotional stimuli is a typical aspect of schizophrenia in many of its stages, which contrasts sharply to the depths of fear, rage, and paranoia that schizophrenics can exhibit at the extremes of their delusions (Hirsch & Weinberger 2003, pp. 26-30). This is mirrored by a semi-catatonic physical state, where body movements become lessened, there is again reduced physical response to external stimuli, and...
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