In the early 1960s, Herbert Spiegel recognized dissociation as a defensive process. He saw the defensive nature of dissociation as a “fragmentation process that serves to defend against anxiety and fear”. He also recognized the relationship between dissociation and repression. This was known as the dissociation-association continuum. The continuum was used to describe the degree of dissociation (History of Dissociative Identity Disorder).
Throughout the 1970s, a number of clinicians worked to define and establish the legitimacy of Dissosiative Identity Disorder. Margareta Bowers, along with six others published “Therapy of Multiple Personality” in 1971. This publication outlines rules for treating multiple personalities which are still used
…show more content…
today (A History). Media continued to draw attention to dissociative identity disorder. Sybil, a biography published in 1973, described the life of Shirly Ardell Mason, a shy woman that reportedly had sixteen different personality states (History of Dissociative Identity Disorder). In 1950, while Mason was a student at Columbia University, she visited psychiatrist Cornelia B. Wilbur because she was experiencing blackouts (Famous). Dr. Wilbur later discovered that Mason was the victim of severe physical/sexual abuse as a child (History of Dissociative Identity Disorder). She went to great lengths to validate the abuse, firmly linking Dissociative Personality Disorder to childhood abuse (A History). Dr. Wilbur even went as far as visiting Mason’s childhood home. Here, she sees the equipment Mason’s mother used to torture her as a child (History of Dissociative Identity Disorder). Mason was unable to cope with the emotions that resulted from the childhood trauma. As a result, Mason developed alter personalities which embodied the feelings and emotions the ‘real’ Sybil had. The “waking” Sybil was deprived of these emotions. Consequently, the “waking” Sybil was a rather drab figure. She was unaware of her other personas. She suffered blackouts and amnesia while her alter personality states were in control (A History). Sybil, which was based off of her psychotherapy sessions, describes dissociative amnesia, horrific sexual abuse, and suicide attempts which Mason made (History of Dissociative Identity Disorder). Dr. Wilbur helped Sybil integrate the personalities after sixteen years of therapy. Dr. Wilbur’s therapy, which included hypnosis and other therapeutic interventions, produced a successful resolution (A History). A film based on Mason’s case, also called Sybil was released in 1976 (History of Dissociative Identity Disorder). Also in the 1970s, studies by Ludwig introduced the contemporary scientific study of dissociation.
Further research on Dissociative Identity Disorder led to a separate section for dissociative disorders in the DSM-III, which was published in 1980. In the DSM-III, Dissociative Idendity Disorder was renamed to Multiple Personality Disorder. This version of the DSM was the first version in which this disorder was recognized as a separate diagnosis instead of being recognized as one of a number of dissociative symptoms that were grouped together under one diagnosis (History of Dissociative Identity Disorder). The separation of diagnoses gave legitimacy to dissociation as a condition/disorder (A History). Bliss, Coons, Greaves, Rosenbaum, and many other researchers published landmark articles containing their research on dissociation. These publications initiated a huge increase in the diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder. The increase of diagnoses generated controversy and skepticism. Some professionals that were extremely skeptical of the diagnosis were found to be falsifying clinical data, and deliberately interfering with the clinical care of patients (History of Dissociative Identity Disorder). Skepticism resulted in the recognition that patients with this disorder are often misdiagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia. Today, patients with Dissociative Identity Disorder are still commonly misdiagnosed with Schizophrenia (History of Dissociative Identity Disorder).
Dissociative Identity Disorder was known as Multiple Personality Disorder until the publication of the DSM-IV. In this version of the DSM, Multiple Personality Disorder was renamed Dissociative Identity Disorder (A History). The name was changed to better reflect the condition, which is characterized by fragmentation or splintering of the identity. Previous names improperly characterized the condition as a proliferation, or growth of separate identities (Psychology
Today). The virtual explosion of publications, journals, books, and biographical accounts relating to Dissociative Identity Disorder has resulted in an increased availability of information about this disorder (A History). As a result, this once rarely reported disorder has grown to be better known. Diagnosis is still controversial. Some believe DID patients are highly susceptible and easily prompted by therapists’ probing, however, brain imaging studies have corroborated identity transitions in some patients (Psychology Today). Regardless, even today there are still professionals in the mental health field who continue to believe that Dissociative Identity Disorder is not a legitimate psychiatric diagnosis (A History).
Isn 't it ironic when theres a clown but he 's not happy like his painted smile portrays, he’s actually quite depressed. In fact he 's actually more than so an individual who can 't seem to get his life in order. In Tandolfo the Great we meet Rodney, a troubled young man who seems to have lost it after reading a letter from his supposed love. Along the way we are met with images of “this isn 't me” and actions that bring us to the question of “Is this really Rodney or could it be a alter ego?” Rodneys ' action consist of “self-destructive behavior, mood swings, and depression” as presented by the National Institute of Mental Health these are all actions and symptoms of Dissociative Identity Disorder, DID,. Heartbreak can cause many things
Dissociation can occur any time in our life and there is two kinds of dissociation, childhood and adulthood. Child dissociation is different from adult dissociation. Child dissociation occurs when the child is actually experiencing some sort of trauma, like abuse. Adult dissociation happens in situations like stress or family related issues. Another difference is that child dissociation does not last very long (usually a hour), but adult dissociation lasts for a longer period of time. Dissociation occurs when something so painful is happening that the mind leaves the body to go elsewhere. In Martha Stout’s essay “When I Woke up On Tuesday, It Was Friday,” she defines dissociation as the mind leaving the body and transporting our awareness to a place so far away, it feels like the person is watching from outside their body. In her essay, she tells her audience about the dangers of dissociation, such as blackout, unable to relate to others, a sense of not knowing who one is, and the sense of lost time. She also includes some of her patient’s stories and experiences with dissociation, how they struggle for sanity and how she helps them see a new meaning of life. She tells her audience that often when patients or people dissociate they have lack of self-control and self-awareness. Dissociation can happen to anybody in a dire situation, for instance a child getting abused or some other traumatic event. Martha Stout has her audience/reader rethink about dissociation particularly the harmful side of it. She has help me see that although dissociation is helpful, it could lead to suicide thought, accidents, loss of identity and sanity.
It is often seen as a social norm for children to seek the comfort and protection of their favorite blanket or toy from the horrors occurring in front of them. In the article, I Have Dissociative Identity Disorder, written by Quiet Storm, Storm recalls both the physical and sexual abuse she had to endure which caused her to seek the help of multiple personalities to take her place during the pain while she hid deep beneath her consciousness. Her ability to become a successful nurse and social worker is an inspiring characteristic that I can empathize with, since her and I both share the intrinsic need to help others. Storm’s transformation from a person who allowed the pain to control her to one who initiated the calm to her storm was the main
Traub, C. M. (2009). Defending a diagnostic pariah: validating the categorisation of Dissociative Identity Disorder. South African Journal of Psychology, 39(3), 347-356.
Dissociative Identity Disorder, also known as Multiple Personality Disorder is a psychological disorder that can be caused by many things, but the most common cause is severe childhood trauma which is usually extreme, repetitive physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. A lot of people experience mild dissociation which includes daydreaming or getting momentarilly distracted while completing everyday tasks. Dissociative identity disorder is a severe form of dissociation. Seveer Dissociation causes a lack of connection in a person's thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of identity. Dissociative identity disorder is thought to stem from a combination of factors that may include trauma experienced by the person with the disorder. When a
More than two million cases can be found in psychological and psychiatric records of multiple personality disorders also called dissociative identity disorders. Dissociative Identity, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, is a condition in which, an individual has a host personality along with at least two or more personalities with each identity having his or her own ideas, memories, thoughts and way of doing things (Bennick). Personality disorders are a group of mental illnesses. They involve thoughts and behaviors that are unhealthy and inflexible. A person with a personality disorder has trouble perceiving and relating to situations and people. This causes significant problems and limitations in relationships, social activities,
Dissociative identity disorder, a condition that has plagued and altered the minds of those who were diagnosed for many years, represents the condition in which an individual displays multiple personalities that overpower his or her behavior around others and even alone. Such personalities or identities can have staggering differences between them even being characterized by a disparate gender, race, or age. One of the sides of them can even be animal-like and display feral qualities. Also, the disorder severs the connection between the victim’s sense of identity, emotions, actions, and even memories from their own consciousness. The cause for this is known to be a very traumatic experience that the person had gone through previously and fails to cope with it, thus they dissociate themselves from the memory in order to keep their mental state in one piece. All these results from the disorder do not begin to tell of the rest of the horrors that gnaw away at the affected human.
“Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder): Signs, Symptoms, Treatment."WebMD. WebMD. Web. 14 Mar. 2012. http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorder
In the book Sybil, written by Flora Rheta Schreiber discuss the life story of Sybil Isabel Dorsett, who has developed 16 distinct personalities because of her childhood abuse. Sybil story became one of the most severe cases ever recorded with multiple personalities. Which is currently called Dissociative Identity Disorder in the current DSM-V. “Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a severe condition in which two or more distinct identities, or personality states, are present in—and alternately take control of—an individual. The person also experiences memory loss that is too extensive to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness” (Psychology Today, 2008, para 1). Sybil’s distinct sense of selves helped protect her from the trauma she experienced as a child.
One celebrity with a psychiatric disorder who appealed to me the most is Herschel Walker. Born on March Fifth 1968, Herschel was a former football running back. He attended the University of Georgia where he won a Heisman award. During his NFL career he was drafted onto numerous teams including the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Minnesota Vikings for a grand total of twelve seasons. He has also competed in the Olympics and had the honor of being an Olympic torchbearer.
In theory, the developmental process behind MPD is a result of resorting to a mental escape from a traumatic situation. This is essentially achieved when neither fleeing nor fighting can be used as a defense option, which leads the individual to distance themselves from the incident to retain control. This distancing mechanism is characterized by detachment from the self or surroundings, excluding unwanted or unneeded feelings from awareness, and partial or total amnesia from the emotions associated with the traumatic event. In essence, this process allows the individual to separate the traumatic memories from ordinary consciousness to preserve some areas of healthy functioning. This entire process is referred to as dissociation. Dissociation serves as an adaptive function, as it allows the individual to escape from the traumatic event while it is underway. However repeated reliance on dissociative defenses can lead to the inability to properly process information from past and future events. It is theorized that the repeated use of dissociation can lead to the development of a series of separate mental states, which may eventually take on an identity of their own.
Multiple Personality Disorder is a serious and real condition that is basically present in people who have gone through some kind of abuse or traumatic experience. So far MPD is not known as hereditary. There is no true explanation for multiple personality disorder but its accepted as a condition. Multiple personalities have not only been proved as dangerous and hazardous to surroundings, but its also the mystery of every psychologist and therapist. Many people devote their lives to unlock the secret of MPD and they try and unlock the “locked” memories in MPD patients minds. Multiple personality disorder has and continues to boggle the minds of psychologist everywhere and is still unexplainable.
My topic of choice for this research paper is Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID. This appellation is rather new; therefore, most are more familiar with the disorder's older, less technical name: Multiple Personality Disorder or MPD. When first presented with the task of selecting a topic on which to center this paper, I immediately dismissed Dissociative Identity Disorder (which for the sake of brevity will be referred to as DID for the remainder of this paper) as a viable topic due to the sheer scope of the disorder. However after an exhaustive examination of other prospective topics, I found myself back at my original choice. There are several reasons why I chose DID. The foremost of which is the widespread fascination of this disorder by many different types of people; most of whom otherwise have no interest in psychology or its associated fields. One would be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t been captivated at one time or another by the extraordinary, all too well known symptoms of this disorder. This fascination… dare I say ‘allure’ to this disorder is exemplified by the myriad of motion pictures that have been produced based on cases, real or fictitious, of DID. Another reason for my choice is what I feel is the insufficiency of effective treatments for DID. Despite what is known about this disorder, (which is relatively a lot) there are only two chief treatments for DID; the first and most prevalent is psychotherapy; also known as ”talk therapy”, the second is medication. The third and final reason for my choice is my own enchantment with DID. I must admit that ever since I read about Sue Tinker, a woman who was diagnosed with over 200 different personalities. In writing this paper I hope to discover more about this disorder and perhaps be able to identify a few areas that I feel might require more research on the part of psychologists specializing in DID.
Andrew Laeddis is a Caucasian male in his mid-30s, who is very intelligent. After serving in the Army in Europe during WWII and participating in the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp, Andrew became a U.S. Marshal. He has been institutionalized at Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane for two years, since he shot and killed his wife after discovering that she had killed their three children. In response to his traumatic experience, Andrew Laeddis developed multiple disorders, namely posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as dissociative identity disorder (DID) and delusional disorder which developed after the PTSD.
Do you ever feel like you just can’t take reality anymore? You just want to escape it and in order to do so, your conscious awareness becomes separated from all the painful things you can’t stand, including your painful memories. Then suddenly you’re a totally different person. Another identity takes your place in suffering all the painful things you want to escape. Today, I’m going to talk to you about dissociative identity disorder (DID). I will be talking about what DID is, what causes DID and how it affects the individual (host/core). I will also mention a famous case in psychology.