Abnormal Psychology HW
Now that you have learned about Disassociative Identity Disorder (DID) and the controversies around it, what are your thoughts on it? Do you think it’s a real disorder? Are you concerned professionals may not be taking it seriously enough? Or do you think it may not be a true diagnosis and people (professionals and clients) may be manufacturing the diagnosis? Do you have any concerns over the legitimacy of the diagnosis? Remember, there doesnt seem to be many people using it to get out of criminal charges, so what might motivate a person to fake it? Either way, ethical concerns may be involved. Regardless of what your answer is, please explain it.
Sample Answer
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a complex and fascinating disorder, but it’s also one clouded by controversy. Here’s a breakdown of some key points to consider:
Arguments for DID being a real disorder:
- Trauma Link: DID is strongly linked to severe childhood trauma. This trauma can cause a fragmentation of a person’s psyche as a coping mechanism, leading to the development of distinct identities [1].
- Characteristic Symptoms: People with DID exhibit distinct identities with their own behavior patterns, memories, and even physical attributes. Faking this level of detail and consistency over time is very difficult [2].