The split personality that we read about in novels and see in movies, is that true? That a person can assume a different identity-personality, and act out this new character that is distinct even opposite to his customary identity-personality? Without any so much as a shadow of a suspicion that he is not his customary identity-personality?
In which case we have here two identities-personalities. The matter of the self comes up. Here is the phenomenon of two selves, distinct from each other except in their numerical and physical identity: the two characters make one single physical identical quantity or number; while one is in actual operation, the other is in abeyance or in some kind of psychic shelf storage.
If we can get someone to become the split identity-personality that corresponds to our identity-personalty, wouldn’t that be useful for some purposes? Like what? Like being in two places at the same time – of course if we can get someone looking like ourselves.
From studies I’ve read, split-personality disorders, more properly called MPD, is an artifact of careless psychiatric treatment. I dont’ think there’s any definitive agreement yet, on whether it actually exists or not, but my feeling is not.
Actually it is now labeled as “Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly MPD).” It is recognized by DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). The diagnostic criteria are: A. The presence of two or more distinct identitities or personality 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 or personality states recurrently take control of the person’s behavior.
C. Inability to recall important personal information that is too extensive to b explained by ordinary forgetfullness.
D. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of substance or a general medical condition (seizures).
Individuals with this disorder experience frequent gaps in memory for personal history, both remote and recent. The amnesia is frequently asymmetrical. An identity which is not in control may nonetheless gain access to consciousness by producing auditory or visual hallucinations (e.g., a voice giving instructions).
These individuals frequently report having experienced severe physical and sexual abuse in childhood.
“Split personality” was another name for schizophrenia*. The idea was that the single personality was split into pieces. It’s often confused with “multiple personalidy disorder” (which I guess have been renamed “Dissociative Identity Disorder”*), which means the person has several “full” personalities appearing in different situations and times.
*which, knowing psychologists, they’ve probably renamed to something else. Psychologists seem to think renaming something is a step toward curing it. If MDs worked like psychologists, they’d start curing cancer by renaming it “semprini.”
Yes, but incorrectly. Schizophrenia is an entirely different disorder, altho the name looks like it would mean split personality. Shizophrenia is one of the psychotic disorders in which the individual loses contact with reality. It has nothing to do with a split personality. This diagnosis is warranted only if prominent delusions or hallucinations are present for at least a month. It is believed there is a congenital component to this disorder. The first-degree biological relatives of individuals with schizophrenia have a risk for schizophrenia that is about 10 times greater than the general populations. Environmental factors also play a part.
[source: DSM-IV}