The Characteristics Of Multiple Personality Disorder

Multiple Personality Disorders (MPD), or what has been re-classified, Dissociative Idenitfy Disorder (DID), is a deliberating and frightening illness for the DID individual; as well as their friends and family. The meaning of DID (Dissoiative Idenity Disorder) usually means that a person has more than two self-states or identities, which often times appear like entirely different personalities. When one is under the control of one identity, the person usually is unable to remember some of the events, but is able to keep other personalities in control.

According to the researchers of mayoclinic.org, Multiple Personality Disorder, also known as Dissociative Identity Disorder, is characterized by a “switching to alternate personalities”. The host of the disorder feels the presence of one or more people living within their head. The disease was first discovered by “Dr. Jean- Martin Charcot, (the) chief physician at Salpetriere Hospital in Paris”. The disease was first thought to have been a mixture of epilepsy and hysteria, thus its original name being Hystero-Epilepsy. The early symptoms of the disease were: contortions, convulsions, fainting, and impaired consciousness (psycom.net).

We’ve all experienced the feeling that we’ve moved into a different life, dissociation from reality, just mild like when we daydream, delve into a good book or become engrossed with a project. But then after that, we do still come back to reality. However, some people are diagnosed with a dissociative identity disorder or the popular multiple personality disorder (MPD). This differ from mild dissociation that all of us commonly experience. People who have this live a fairly complicated life. Sadly, people who have this experience traumatic physical, sexual or emotional abuse during their childhood.

Multiple Personality Disorder is a condition that many people probably have not heard of. Among those who have heard of it, there are even less who actually know what it is. However, according to Piper (1997) there were about 6,000 cases diagnosed in North America alone in 1986. Some experts estimate that multiple personality disorder, or MPD, affects 5 to 10 percent of the population, or about 100 million people worldwide. For such a widespread disorder, the public's lack of knowledge about it is pretty shocking. One explanation for this lack of knowledge could be the fact that many people, fueled by the beliefs of many noted psychologists, do not believe the

Multiple personality Disorder, (MPD) was first recognized in the 1700’s but was not understood so therefore was soon forgotten. Many cases showed up during the years, but was overlooked, or misdiagnosed as either schizophrenia or psychosis. Many in the medical profession did not believe that a person could have more than one personality in a body, unknowingly, even after the 1950’s. In 1993, records show that three to five thousand people were being treated for MPD, compared to the hundred cases reported ten years earlier. The disease is commonly found in adults who were abused mentally, physically, emotionally, and or sexually as children, between birth to eight years of age. The child uses a process called disassociation to separate himself/herself from the abusive situation. This is when the child makes up a personality to take control of the mind and body. During abuse, usually there is a personality for every emotion and feeling when the abuse is taking place. Symptoms of the disease include: amnesia, hallucinations, depression, and suicidal thoughts, and tendencies, and there can be anywhere from two to over a hundred different personalities. Usually each personality will fall into one of the following categories: host, core, child, teenager, artistic, adult, animals, intimate members, self-helpers, persecutor, rescuer and helper. The child is usually under the age of twelve, with according behaviors,

Multiple Personality Disorder, or MPD, which is also referred to as Dissociative Identity Disorder, is a mental disorder in which sufferers experience several personalities. All of these subpersonalities, also called alters, exist within one person along a central, primary personality. Each personality has its own memories, characteristics, behavior, thoughts, and can have perceived age and appearance that distinguishes one personality from the next. People with this disorder may exist with two personalities, one primary and one alter, or they may exist with more than a dozen coexisting subpersonalities, making thoughts and everyday life tremendously more difficult for the victim and the people they associate with. Multiple personality disorder derives from several things. First, psychological egos are poorly coordinated due to the stress on sense of self in the mind of a person with the disorder, causing alternative personalities to develop as a form of self defense (Kelley and Kodman 167). Second, it is compelled after experiencing

“Dissociative identity disorder is a condition in which a person manifests at least two or more distinct identities or personality states that alternate in some way in taking control of behavior” (Butcher, 2013, p. 285). Dissociative identity disorder has taken the place of the term "multiple personality’s disorder" because they needed a more accurate name for the disorder due to the fact that "the alternate identities are now seen as fragments of a single personality like a mirror broken into shards sometime in childhood." (Lost in the mirror: Women with multiple

     Sometimes people undergo traumatic experiences in their lives that are either physical or mental and maybe even a combination of both. If the experience was so intense, and so horrible, that the mind didn’t want to remember it, or possibly didn’t know how to deal or cope with it, then that one experience has the power to split a person’s mind into “another personality”. If this happens, the other personality or personalities come out when a person who has MPD (Multiple Personality Disorder) is put in a situation that he/she doesn’t know how to handle or feels that the other personality can handle it better. People suffering from MPD also have the risk of developing some

According to the American Psychological Association’s [APA] Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition [DSM-5], Dissociative Identity Disorder is described as, “the presence of two or more distinct personality states or an experience of possession and the recurrent episodes of amnesia,” (2013, p. 291).

Sexual molestation, beating, neglect, burning, and verbal abuse. All of these horrible happenings are believed to be linked to a condition known as Multiple personality disorder (MPD). Multiple personality disorder, also known as dissociative identity disorder, is a mental illness in which a person has two or more identities or personalities. Single personalities randomly take control of the individual's behavior. Usually, the sufferer gives the personalities their own names. These multiple personalities almost always have characteristics that greatly differ from the person's primary identity. A person with this disorder always experiences some amount of amnesia. Most of the time the individual forgets

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

The most recognizable aspect of Dissociative Identity Disorder is a person's experiencing of many different personalities, or “alters”. An alter is the shortened wording for an alternate personality. One of the most common misconceptions about Dissociative Identity Disorder, or DID for short, is that the person is made up of many people, when in reality these alters are simply fragmentations of a single person. However, these alters can have distinct characteristics and preferences that are much different than the host personality’s. The “host personality” is most commonly understood to be the person’s original personality, although certain instances prove that the most dominant personality can become the host personality over time. The switching between alters is something that is uncontrollable, and commonly leaves the person with very little memory of what has happened or a blank period of time altogether when another alter has been

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

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

Everyone has their own personality. Personality is defined as a set of individual differences that are affected by the development of an individual, which typically consists of a person’s values, attitudes, personal memories, social relationships, and skills. (McAdams, Olson, 2010, p. 517-542) There are two classifications of personalities. If you are considered Type A personality, then you are more competitive, outgoing, possibly impatient and could even be considered aggressive. While the more relaxed, laid back personalities are classified as Type B personalities. No matter which category of personality a person falls under, they can be afflicted with a personality disorder. These disorders can be such a mild version that a person doesn’t even notice that they have one. But then there are some that are affected by their disorder to the point that it completely takes over their lives. So much so that they are unable to live what’s considered a normal life.