Clara Norton Fowler's Dissociative Identity Disorder (1906)

Though the average of personalities within those suffering with dissociative identity disorder (DID) between eight and thirteen, there have been cases where a single person harbored more than one hundred varying personalities within themselves. DID, recently referred to as multiple personality disorder, is a rare condition in which the affected individual has two or more prominent states of personality. The person with this condition has a fragmented identity, rather than simply the growth of different personalities, and often suffers from a series of undesirable and frightening symptoms. In addition to this, the disorder is most often caused by abuse that the person experienced at some point in their past. In the novel Into the Wild by Jon

In chapter 15 of Exploring Psychology, the author discuss the basics of psychological disorders. Within this assignment, the psychological disorder of my choosing is Dissociative Identity Disorder. The commonality of the disorder is rare. Although we’ve disassociated ourselves in some form or the other with our ability to daydream, Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is more severe and is usually linked to trauma. Formerly the disorder was known as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). Individuals who suffer from this disorder usually have more than one aspect of themselves or personalities, whom he or she is completely unaware of. Sufferers of the disorder have to deal with a variety of symptoms such as memory loss, depression, anxiety, hallucinations, black-outs, impulsiveness, and perception of being detached from the self. The severity of the trauma is usually extreme, repetitive, and long-term. The individual may have an extensive history of physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse.

Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a psychological condition in which a person will create one or more alternate identities. DID (formerly known as multiple personality disorder) is just one of three dissociative disorders. This disorder is set apart by the way the identities “switch” from one to another. Patients who suffer from dissociative identity disorder can often lead normal lives when diagnosed properly and treated accordingly; sometimes, they cannot. People suffering from dissociative identity disorder often have similar causes, symptoms, and treatments.

Dissociative identity disorder is called a multiple personality disorder up until 1994 when they changed the name to give us a better understanding of the condition. Some people believe that patients with DID can become easily hypnotized and their symptoms are iatrogenic, "meaning they have arisen in response to therapists' suggestions. Brain imaging studies, however, have corroborated identity transitions in some patients." Usually a primary identity will carry the individual's name and is passive, dependent, guilty, and depressed. When an

Previously called Multiple Personality Disorder, Dissociative Identity Disorder occurs when multiple, distinct identities control a single person’s behavior. These identities frequently inhibit the body. Once they leave, though, there are no memories left of the actions that partook while the other identities were in control. Through the years, the report of Dissociative Identity Disorder has increased. Nevertheless, this mental disease continues to raise skepticism.

In 1994 the American Psychiatric Association (APA) changed the name of the disorder from multiple personality disorder to dissociative identity disorder. Psychiatrists wanted to emphasize the fact that the disorder is not really made up of many personalities living in one body, but rather of a failure to integrate various aspects of identity into a unified personality (www.mentalhelp.net). Simply put, individuals who suffer from this condition have only parts of personalities. Instead of any one complete identity.

Dissociative Identity Disorder, commonly referred to as Multiple Personality Disorder, exists as a bizarre mental disorder in which a person acquires two

The arguable claim that I am using in this paper is whether or not Dissociative Identity Disorder is an actual disorder, or if it is an extreme bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. I will be using three main points to prove that this disorder is real. One being comparing people who are suffering from bipolar illness and people with dissociative identity disorder, and sharing their differences and ways to tell them apart. I will also be doing this with schizophrenia, which will be another main point. Finally, I will use the information many different scientists have gathered to prove the realness of this disorder.

Dissociative Identity Disorder, previously known as “multiple personality disorder”, is a mental disorder in which a

Dissociative identity disorder is a type of dissociative disorder. A dissociative disorder can be explained as an individual becoming dissociative with his or her sense of self. These disorders disturb both memory and identity and usually have a psychological cause. Dissociative identity disorder is a disorder in which two or more identities or personality states are present in one individual. These identities alternatively take control of the individual. This causes frequent gaps in memory, which are believed to be caused by the other personality. When one personality takes control, the other one does not remember anything that took place. There has been continuing research about what causes the disorder. It is believed that the disorder is caused by intense physical or sexual trauma (Dissociative Disorders). The disorder was once called multiple personality disorder until 1994. This changed to reflect a better understanding of the

Dissociative Identity Disorder is a mental disorder. It’s with a person having one or more personalities or identities that are distinctly different. These states alternately show in a person's behavior, accompanied by memory impairment for important information not explained by ordinary forgetfulness. These symptoms are not accounted for by substance abuse, seizures, or other medical conditions, nor by imaginative play in children. Dissociative symptoms range from common lapses in attention, becoming distracted by something else, and daydreaming, to pathological dissociative disorders. Symptoms vary over time.

“Dissociative Identity Disorder is defined as a dissociative disorder in which a person has two or more distinct, or alter, personalities” (Nevid, Rathus, and Greene 572). Dissociative Identity Disorder is formally known as Multiple Personality Disorder. A person who has been diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder has two or more personalities that are within one person. Each personality has its own specific qualities, memories, mannerisms, and sometimes different speaking voice (Nevid, Rathus, and Greene 201). Some people’s multiple personalities are aware of each other and in other people, the personalities are not aware of the others. There may be one dominant personality in a person but this is not always the case (Nevid, Rathus, and Greene 202).

Dissociative identity disorder is increasingly understood as a complex and chronic posttraumatic psychopathology closely related to severe, particularly early, child abuse (Waseem, 2014). The dominant or the host’s personality breaks off sub categorically and begins to develop with different and distinct memories, behavioral pattern, historical and familial background and cognitive function. Sufferers usually develop different identities (commonly known as alter). Each alter have its own distinct memories, personal experiences, likes, dislikes, talent and self-image including their own name. The transference of the identity to the next one is called “switching” and it is usually triggered by a negative or stressful event or experience although, at times, occurring without noticeable indication (Comer, 2007).

“Dissociative identity disorder (DID), which was formerly known as multiple personality disorder (MPD), is a disorder in which an individual has the presence of two or more identities or personality states” (Pais 2009, pg.1). Throughout this paper the reader will be provided with information regarding Dissociative Identity Disorder; a disorder that is truly as unique, and complicated as the human mind. Reading this paper will help the audience grasp a better understanding of how and why such a complicated disorder can occur, by focusing on topics such as; prevalence, controversial issues, symptoms, side-effects and treatment options.

This research paper aims to explore the mental disease known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously known as multiple personality disorder. I explore the meaning, symptoms, and effects of DID. My research describes those diagnosed with DID and the probable reasons of why they have the disorder. This study also explains the many different treatments and the effects those treatments might have on a person that has the disorder. I include a research study done on someone diagnosed with DID, the method used to help treat her, and the results of her treatment. Lastly, I state my opinion on DID and the methods I believe with help people prevent, treat, and cope with