At the core of this history is a trio of related evolutions—hypnosis, concepts of identity, and dissociation—beginning with nineteenth-century "hysterics" and culminating in the modern boom in Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) diagnoses and the parallel rise in childhood abuse/repressed memory cases. Rieber does not argue the non-existence of DID; rather he asserts that it is a rare disorder exaggerated by dissociation advocates and exploited by the media. In doing so, he takes on some of the most difficult questions in the field:
- How crucial is memory to a person’s identity?
- Can two or more autonomous personalities actually exist in the same body?
- If trauma causes dissociation, why aren’t there more DID cases?
- Why are DID cases prevalent in some eras but not in others?
- Does dissociative disorder belong in the DSM?
The book is rigorously illustrated with two centuries’ worth of famous cases including Christine Beauchamp, Ansel Bourne, Eve Black/Eve White, and most notably the woman known as "Sybil", whose story is covered in depth with newly revealed manuscripts. And Rieber reviews the current state of DID-related controversy, from the professionals who feel that the condition is underreported to those who consider it a form of malingering, so that readers may draw their own conclusions.
At the core of this history is a trio of related evolutions—hypnosis, concepts of identity, and dissociation—beginning with nineteenth-century "hysterics" and culminating in the modern boom in Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) diagnoses and the parallel rise in childhood abuse/repressed memory cases. Rieber does not argue the non-existence of DID; rather he asserts that it is a rare disorder exaggerated by dissociation advocates and exploited by the media. In doing so, he takes on some of the most difficult questions in the field:
- How crucial is memory to a person’s identity?
- Can two or more autonomous personalities actually exist in the same body?
- If trauma causes dissociation, why aren’t there more DID cases?
- Why are DID cases prevalent in some eras but not in others?
- Does dissociative disorder belong in the DSM?
The book is rigorously illustrated with two centuries’ worth of famous cases including Christine Beauchamp, Ansel Bourne, Eve Black/Eve White, and most notably the woman known as "Sybil", whose story is covered in depth with newly revealed manuscripts. And Rieber reviews the current state of DID-related controversy, from the professionals who feel that the condition is underreported to those who consider it a form of malingering, so that readers may draw their own conclusions.
The Bifurcation of the Self: The History and Theory of Dissociation and Its Disorders
304
The Bifurcation of the Self: The History and Theory of Dissociation and Its Disorders
304
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780387274133 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Springer US |
| Publication date: | 03/27/2006 |
| Series: | Library of the History of Psychological Theories |
| Edition description: | 2006 |
| Pages: | 304 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.03(d) |