SH+P6+2014+Multiple-personality+disorder

Aim - Margo Faoro Dissociative identity disorder (DID), also known as multiple personality disorder is a mental condition in which the person has multiple identities where they can flip from one personality to the other. As said in NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), “At the time a person living with DID first seeks professional help, he or she is usually not aware of their condition” (1). A person with multiple personalities can have anywhere from 2 to 100 different personalities, all distinctly different. Each identity can even change appearance or accents, such as needing a different eye prescription, having different allergies, being right or left-handed, or even gender orientation. These different personalities they can have can be drastically different, to the point of being dangerous, or even animalistic. People with DID are labeled as such so that those around them know what to expect and are not surprised. If someone did not know a person around them had DID and they saw the change, it could disorient or irritate them. DID is a legitimate mental disorder that should be noted, so that people will be more knowledgeable and know what they are dealing with.

Works Cited "NAMI." NAMI. Web. 25 July 2014.

Audience - Hunter Whitlow The most likely audience who would read a work about Dissociative Identity Disorder are those with the disorder, as well as those who know someone with the disorder. According to NAMI, “A very common complaint in people affected by DID is episodes of amnesia...Peer support is vitally important to many who live with mental illness” (1). Someone who has a friend or family member with DID will certainly be interested in anything written about the disorder. The family will often be more aware of the disorder than the person who has DID, so they will most likely want to read the work. The people who actually have DID would be considered the primary audience for any work involving the disorder. Anyone related to the person in any way, as well as people who are simply interested in DID, would be considered a secondary audience. An author of a work that involves DID would certainly be making the assumption that the audience has no problem reading about the disorder. As stated in OpEd News, “Patients with DID report having severe physical and sexual abuse, especially during childhood” (Johnson 1). This fact is not exactly a light subject, so therefore those who would read a novel about DID would have to be interested in it. Therefore, that is what the author would most likely assume about the audience. Any author who can write a work about or involving DID and represent it accurately is surely a strong writer. Their accuracy and integration of DID would be a strength in their writing style and ability to back up their writing with accurate details.

Works Cited Johnson, Jack. "OpEdNews Diary: Dissociative Identity Disorder." OpEdNews. 19 July 2009. Web. 25 July 2014. "NAMI - The National Alliance on Mental Illness." NAMI. Web. 25 July 2014.

Historical - Alex Clark Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly referred to as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD), has been recognized in many societies. Before the advent of modern psychiatric treatments and knowledge, “They were understood, with the explanatory paradigms of their era, to be afflicted with the various Judeo-Christian forms of possession and were treated with culturally endorsed forms of exorcism.” (Kluft 338). Given that the first modern recorded instance of DID was in 1787 by Petetain, even though the time period itself was centuries after the Protestant Reformation, religion still had an influence over the general public. Because the church still had power and science had not evolved to its current state, the obvious assumption regarding afflicted persons with DID was that some tormented soul had possessed their body, and exorcisms were required. In 17th century England, exorcisms were supported by Puritan Ministers such as George Moore, “There can be only one true church, the mark of which is to work miracles, and of them this is the greatest, namely to cast out devils.” (Almond 9). At the time exorcism was considered a miracle, like that of the parting of the Red Sea or Jesus’ resurrection. In recent times, DID has made recurrences internationally; in North America, South America, Europe and Africa. Though knowledge of DID has changed and the disorder can be identified.

Works Cited Almond, Philip C. Demonic Possession and Exorcism in Early Modern England. New York City, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007. E-Book. Kluft, Richard P. Dissociative Identity Disorder. New York City, New York: Springer Publishing, 1996. E-Book.

Cultural - Cassie Price Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is actually a very common themes in many works today and in the past. There are numerous examples to give, and this theme of mental illness, DID in particular, is significant in art culture. DID is very often caused by a traumatic occurrence that has happened in someone’s life, especially pertaining to abuse. As writer Manon Eileen writes in notion of the novel and movie Sybil, “ Sybil’s disorder was caused by severe physical (and sexual) abuse she suffered from her mother, and, as is often seen in people with DID, forming multiple personalities is an escape mechanism. In fact, most individuals diagnosed with DID report that they have been severely abused in their childhood”(1). Take Norman Bates for example; he killed his mother and her lover out of jealousy, but felt so guilty about it that he developed a second personality, which was his mother. This was a revolutionary plot twist, and was such a horrific shock when Norman’s mental illness was revealed. Mental illness is popular among literature and movies for this very reason; it is exciting, unpredictable, and captivating. Mental illness, and DID in particular, has an extraordinary impact on literature and art because of this.

Works Cited Eileen, Manon. "Manon Eileen – a Writer's Blog." Manon Eileen a Writers Blog. 4 Jan. 2011. Web. 25 July 2014. Spurlin, J. "Biography for Norman Bates." IMDb. IMDb.com, 2010. Web. 24 July 2014.