Fight Club: Dissociative Identity Disorder

In Fight Club, the protagonist creates an alternative identity, Tyler, for himself as a coping mechanism. In ways, the film portrays an inaccurate version of the disorder since the protagonist did not go through any trauma as

Based on all of the narrator’s symptoms it is clear that the narrator fits the diagnostic criteria for dissociative identity disorder not otherwise specified. The diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder requires the individual to have two separate personalities or identities that take control of the individual. In this specific case, the narrator only suffers from one separate identity taking control and therefore he does not meet the criteria for dissociative identity disorder. The DSM-IV-TR supports diagnosing the narrator with

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 is a condition of mystery that is not clearly understood because of its way of presenting in a patient. In this research article there will be in depth analysis of the condition that is so publically recognized by Hollywood but at times ignored by medical professionals. There will analysis of demographics and who is affected more; male or female will also be looked at closely. There will also be a review of what factors predispose individuals to Dissociative Identity Disorder, and how it is diagnosed. There will also be information of how the disorder is treated via therapy and medication. The usual signs and symptoms will also be discussed and

Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a condition where there are two or more distinct identities that are and will become present in an individual. These personalities can and will eventually take control of the individual, many people consider having dissociative identity disorder an experience of being possessed. The individual can and most likely will experience memory loss that is more extensive than ordinary everyday forgetfulness (Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder). Around two percent of people will experience dissociative disorder, women are more likely than men are to be diagnosed with DID. "Almost half of adults in the United States experience at least one depersonalization/derealization episode in their lives, with only 2% meeting the full criteria for chronic episodes” (Dissociative Disorders).

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is the “severe condition in which two or more distinct identities, or personality states, are present in—and alternately take control of—an individual” (psychologytoday,2018,1). Dissociative Identity Disorder was first diagnosed in the late 1800s by Doctor Jean-Martin Charcot. This disorder affects about 1 percent of the United States population. This disorder is more common in females than it is in males. For example, Britney Spears has suffered from Dissociative Identity Disorder since 2008. Some of her alter egos include, “The British girl, other alter egos include the weepy girl, the diva, and the incoherent girl” (Ranker, 2018, 1). Therefore, many people have this disorder without anybody even knowing

Robert Oxnam published an autobiography called A Fractured Mind in order to educate more people about his illness and to introduce a deeper understanding of Dissociative Identity Disorder. In an article written by Bruce Weber of the New York Times, Oxnam explained how writing the book was a timely challenge because each of his alter personalities wrote their chapter of the story in a first-person narrative (Weber, 2005). The reader learns about Dissociative Identity Disorder by being introduced to Oxnam’s alters, watching their interrelationships develop and recognizing the integration of his fragmented mind.

Dissociative identity disorder can be diagnosed with, “the presence of two of more distinct identities or personalities states (each with its own relatively enduring pattern of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and self), b. at least two of these identities of personality states recurrently take control of the person’s behavior, c. inability to recall important personal information that is too extensive to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness, d. the disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance or general medical condition”, (Levy & Swanson. 2008. Clinical Assessment of Dissociative Identity Disorder Among College Counseling Clients. p. 11). Physicians argue that the evidence that the patient presents is real, they are looking for something more, or rather dig deeper to diagnose each separately as its own issue. Psychiatrists also argue that criminals may “get off” due to the individual’s alters playing a role in the diagnoses’ everyday life.

Symptoms of DID are lapses in memory when another one of the alters takes control which affects the person’s behavior, as well as discovering proof that they acted a certain way even though they do not remember that they did this (“Dissociative Identity Disorder,” 2017). The narrator in Fight Club has serious memory lapses as well as inability to recall events such as the time he shot a man who was investigating the club for the mayor, but then later realized that he did, in fact, kill him. The narrator with DID does meet the criteria for the disorder as he faced many behavioral changes and struggles between himself and his alter, Tyler. Additionally, he faced

During the move the character was battling with several identities within the three clusters or groups of types identity disorder. Kevin’s identity disorder is consisting with a person who suffered a traumatic experience as a child. According the movie plot, Kevin was abandoned by his father and left with his abusive mother. According the Mayo Clinic (Dissociation Identity Disorder) the definition of dissociation identity disorder, Kevin’s identity disorder was developed due to his past traumatic experiences as a child. In the movie one of Kevin’s personalities display behavior of obsessive compulsive disorder a disorder that the main goal is to archive order and perfection, and antisocial PD define by the Mayo Clinic (Dissociation Identity Disorder) as a disorder or mental health condition on which the individual shows no regards or compassion for others. Another of Kevin’s personality display symptoms of dependency personality, a child alters, a feminine alter, and homosexual artistic alter. One alters that was mention several times was the beast, which was described as an individual with inhuman characteristics and strength. All the personalities’ behaviors in movie are consisted with the definition and the clusters of dissociation identity disorder. According to statics collected by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (Dissociation Disorders) in the United States, at least 2% of the population experiences dissociation

The movie Fight Club, directed by David Fincher and executively produced by Arnon Milchan, managed to incorporate the psychology world into cinema. This film presents the relationship between repressed urges and the long-term effects they can impose on the well-being of an individual. The movie essentially highlights the nature of Insomnia and Dissociative Identity Disorder. It also manages to tie the two illnesses together by conveying the factor that leads to the development of the conditions. The risk of harbored anxiety, and the problems imposed by a compromised self-concept are also revealed throughout the film.

After watching the movie Split I have learned about dissociative identity disorder. From what I have learned this disorder it causes one to lose himself or herself without noticing because when they portray different personalities and go back to themselves it's a “blank” in their mind. In the movie, Kevin kidnapped three girls and after putting them in a room and talks to them, but portrays different personality each time, but after this, we learn what happens to Kevin as a child. He was emotionally abused by his mother because she was a neat freak, so this is why he developed a personality that was a neat freak because now he could cope, but this also shows that the disorder is caused by trauma and has to start at an early age. Kevin also

She is also a faker at these support groups, and to him seeing her reflects his lies. This is when the character’s more severe secondary disorder starts to show in the movie. He develops dissociative identity disorder. He creates an alter ego named Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt).

In the film Fight club, the main character is the narrator, who is unnamed throughout the film, however it is stated that Tyler Durden is the narrator's alternative personality. This character exhibits symptoms of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly known as multiple personality disorder, which can be explained as “People with dissociative identity disorder exhibit two or more separate personalities or identities, each well-defined and distinct from one another”,(577).

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