I have an idea for a story, but I need some background info. I tried looking on the internet but it didn’t readily pop up the answering of the stuff I was looking for, and I really don’t like surfing all that much. Anyway, the subject is this:
Split personality disorder:
I’ve read that different personalities can’t remember what happened in the different alters. If this is the case, how do they learn things? Say if they were learning to read (let’s just assume for this hypothetical situation that it was not due to trauma and was in place since birth. I know this isn’t how it happens, but humor me), would each alter have to relearn the things that the other(s) had already learned? Or does basic info transfer in the subconscious?
Are speech patterns, accents, handwriting, and grammar different between alters?
Would the patterns of thinking, coming to conclusions, or intelligence (if it can really be rated) be any any different between alters?
Are there any triggers of alter-creation besides trauma?
Are there any texts you can refer me to that aren’t too dry and academic?
and anything else you might think is relevant would be welcome!!!
thanks
I was a psych major, and I could tell you stuff, but what you need to go find is a copy of the DSM-IV. It’s the manual (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) psychologists and psychiatrists use to make diagnoses, and it’ll give you all the clinical criteria and such. Some fun stuff in the DSM.
Ask and you shall receive. Click on the “Classification” link.
MPD is called Dissociative Identity Disorder in the DSM-IV. It’s listed under Dissociative Disorders, along with links to more information than you could possibly want.
Once, when I was working at a residential school for deaf children, we got a call from a middle aged woman who wanted to enroll herself in our school claiming that one of her alters was an 8-year-old deaf boy who needed to learn sign language to communicate with the outside world.
Does anyone know the answers for any of these (especially #1 and #3) offhand? I’m going to try to locate a book at my bookstore, but in the meantime if anyone knows anything that could help, it would be great!
IANAP, but if IRC, each personality can be ignorant of the others’ skills. I don’t know if it goes as far as one being able to play the piano and another not, since this is more a brain-wired talent than a learned ability, but I believe something like reading ability can be discrete.
Basics, like learning to read, dress oneself, eat, etc, remain throughout the personalities. They may not all have the same level of competance- if, for example, you have a 5 year old alter, they aren’t going to be reading War and Peace- but all personalities have access to functional skills.
Yes. Medical conditions can change from personality to personality as well.
Yes. See the second half of the answer to question 1. It truly will depend on the age/maturity/etc of the personality.
Hmmm. I went to a lecture at one point where it was theorized that hypnosis may be able to play a role. The research was still in very early stages, however, so I wouldn’t place too much creedence on it. AFAIK, trauma (physical or otherwise) is still the only catalyst.
The DSM isn’t too dry. You can always read The Three Faces of Eve, though it’s my understanding that they took some liberties with it.
For inspiration, you might want to rent the movie “Primal Fear” with Ed Norton. Explores similar ideas, though I’m not sure how clinically accurate it is.
