Document Type

Blog Post

Publication Date

3-14-2024

Abstract

Dissociative Identity Disorder (“DID”) is a mental disorder where the affected individual has two or more distinct personalities. As a protection strategy against severe, persistent abuse and trauma, DID develops in childhood and lasts the entirety of the person's life. A crucial aspect of DID is "dissociation," which is defined as a defense mechanism in which threatening ideas and feelings are separated from the rest of the psyche and conflicted impulses are kept apart. Dissociation refers to the disconnection from one’s environment, emotions, memories, and thoughts. The child's neuronal sense of self-identity is still developing at the time of this acute dissociation and eventually, the dissociated states become fully distinct personality states.

This post was originally published on the Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution website on March 14, 2024. The original post can be accessed via the Archived Link button above.

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