Dissociative Identity Disorder
Dissociative identity disorder, more commonly known as multiple personality disorder, is one of the most intriguing and least understood of mental disorders. "Dissociative identity disorder is characterized by the presence of "...at least two separate ego states, or alters, different modes of being and feeling and acting that exist independently of each other, coming forth and being in control at different times" (Davison and Neale, pg180). "Each personality is fully integrated and a complex unit with unique memories, behavior patterns, and social relationships that determine the nature of the individual 's acts when that personality is dominant" (Breiner, pg 149).
While psychologists now recognize childhood abuse as a precipitant of DID, the general public is, for the most part, unaware of the strong, almost universal connection. "The vast majority (as many as 98 to 99%) of DID individuals have documented histories of repetitive, overwhelming, and often life-threatening trauma at a sensitive developmental stage of childhood." (DID (MPD) pg2). The two main types of abuse that occur are sexual, involving incest, rape, molestation, and sodomy, and physical, involving beating, burning, cutting, and hanging. Neglect and verbal abuse are also contributing factors. DID is more common among women, probably because females are more frequently subjected to sexual abuse than males.
This disorder is often referred to by professionals as; "Emergency defense system. As a child dissociates, or breaks the connection between his/her thoughts, feelings, and his/her very identity, he/she becomes like a hidden observer who does not have to deal with the pain or fear of the attack. (Alexander, pg 94) All thoughts and memories of the abuse are psychologically separated from the child. After repeated abuse, this dissociation becomes reinforced. If the child is good at it, he/she will use it as a defense mechanism in any situation that he/she perceives as threatening, and different
While psychologists now recognize childhood abuse as a precipitant of DID, the general public is, for the most part, unaware of the strong, almost universal connection. "The vast majority (as many as 98 to 99%) of DID individuals have documented histories of repetitive, overwhelming, and often life-threatening trauma at a sensitive developmental stage of childhood." (DID (MPD) pg2). The two main types of abuse that occur are sexual, involving incest, rape, molestation, and sodomy, and physical, involving beating, burning, cutting, and hanging. Neglect and verbal abuse are also contributing factors. DID is more common among women, probably because females are more frequently subjected to sexual abuse than males.
This disorder is often referred to by professionals as; "Emergency defense system. As a child dissociates, or breaks the connection between his/her thoughts, feelings, and his/her very identity, he/she becomes like a hidden observer who does not have to deal with the pain or fear of the attack. (Alexander, pg 94) All thoughts and memories of the abuse are psychologically separated from the child. After repeated abuse, this dissociation becomes reinforced. If the child is good at it, he/she will use it as a defense mechanism in any situation that he/she perceives as threatening, and different
Cited: 1. Davison, Gerald, and John Neale. Abnormal Psychology. New York, Chichester, Brisbane, Toronto, Singapore: John Wiley and Sons Inc., 1996. 2. Carlson, et al. Split Minds, Split Brains. New York and London: New York University Press, 1986. Split Minds/Split 3. Coons, Philip. Child Abuse and Multiple Personality Disorder. (April 13, 1997) 4. Rainbow House. The Collective Homepage of Rainbow House. (April 13,1997) 5. Breiner, Sander J. "Multiple Personality." Psychological Reports v76 (April 1995): 419-422. 6. Kluft, Expressive and Functional Therapies in the Treatment of Multiple Personality Disorder. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas, 1993. 7. Kluft RP (1991), Clinical presentations of multiple personality disorder. Psychiatr Clin North Am 14:605-629 8. American Psychiatric Association (1994), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV). Washington, DC