Trait Theories of Personality… EYSENCK (1953) The INTROVERT personality A typical introvert is quiet, retiring, introspective, fond of books rather than of people, reserved & distant...

Trait Theories of Personality… EYSENCK (1953) The EXTROVERT personality A typical extrovert is sociable, likes parties, has many friends, needs people to talk to, craves excitement, and likes change…

Freud ‘s psychodynamic theory of personality The tripartite structure of personality ID EGO SUPEREGO

What is Multiple Personality Disorder? (MPD)

MPD or Schizophrenia? Schizophrenia does literally mean ‘split-mind’, however this is referring to the loss of unity between psychological functions MPD is “dissociative disorder in which two or more distinct personalities co-exist within the same individual” MPD is also known as ‘Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)- mainly in the USA.

Dissociation: Is a mental process which produces a lack of connection in a person’s thoughts, memories, feelings, actions or sense of identity. This is on a spectrum, we have all be affected mildly e.g. daydreaming, getting ‘lost’ in a book or film or driving on ‘auto-pilot’.

MPD Symptoms: At least two distinct identities or personality states. Each personality has it own lasting pattern of sensing, thinking and relating to self and the environment. At least two of these personalities assume control of the patients behaviour

MPD Symptoms continued: Common forgetfulness cannot explain the patient’s extensive inability to remember important personal details This behaviour is not directly caused by substance abuse or by a general medical condition.

What causes MPD? Believed it is a response to extremely traumatic situations in which there are no physical means of escape. If the person ‘goes away in their head’ they can remove themselves from the pain and function if it has not occurred.

Does it Exist? Can you ‘fake’ it? Why would you want to?

Thigpen and Cleckley (1954) Aim: to record the symptoms and treatment of a multiple personality disorder This is a case study (and a record of a therapeutic process) Their paper was published in the Journal of abnormal & social psychology (1954)

A case of multiple personality disorder Who was EVE? A 25 year old woman who was referred because of her SEVERE & BLINDING HEADACHES and spells of amnesia Thigpen & Cleckley tested her with Psychometric tests, projective tests,

A case of multiple personality disorder In the initial interviews (EVE WHITE) EVE complained of (symptoms) Blinding Headaches Blackouts Marital Problems Personal problems

A case of multiple personality disorder What was EVE WHITE like? IQ score 110 memory - excellent repressive personality conservative, shy, dutiful loving wife and mother

A case of multiple personality disorder THEN WHAT HAPPENED? EVE WHITE EVE showed amnesia for a recent trip and was HYPNOTISED in order to restore her memory

A case of multiple personality disorder THEN WHAT HAPPENED? FIRST SIGN OF SOMETHING ODD! A letter arrived which was written in two kinds of handwriting!

A case of multiple personality disorder The letter is objective evidence

A case of multiple personality disorder What did EVE say about the letter? She denied writing it, though she did say she had begun a letter which she had not finished

A case of multiple personality disorder What happened then? Eve became distressed and asked “whether hearing voices in her head meant she was insane” she said that she had heard a voice in her head speaking to her

A case of multiple personality disorder This was a critical interview Several times she put her hands to her head as if in pain AND THEN...

THE TRANSFORMATION! EVE WHITE CHANGED and became EVE BLACK! 1st ‘alter-ego?

THE TRANSFORMATION! Eve White became Eve Black! The therapist noted A quick reckless smile…”HI DOC” Eve White now displayed a childishly daredevil air an erotic glance even her sitting posture changed Eve White became Eve Black!

What was EVE BLACK like? IQ score 104 memory - poor regressive personality childish, extrovert, mischievous denied being a wife & mother

The therapy lasted 14 months and 100 hours of interviews Eve Black would sometimes ‘appear’ but could only be CALLED OUT under hypnosis

Eve White was not aware of Eve Black Eve Black was aware of Eve White Eve Black had existed since childhood Eve Black - “would emerge, would behave badly and then retreat and let Eve White take the blame…(parents verified incidents)

How T & C described Eve Black “childish, irresponsible & shallow “seeking pleasure & excitement “denied marriage to EW’s husband whom she despised “denied relationship with EW’s daughter

The Three Faces of Eve Did her family not notice ANYTHING odd When they observed EB they put her harshness & aggression down to ‘occasional temper tantrums in a normally gentle woman

Personality tests (psychometric tests) Rorschach ink blot tests EW = repressive (FREUD) EB = regressive (FREUD) Electroencephalograms (EEG) to record brain activity)

How did the therapists measure the variables of personality? Rorschach ink blot test = a projective test Discussion: What do you see? Is what you see a projection of your unconscious mind? Is this a quantitative or qualitative measure? How valid is this measure?

How did the therapists measure the variables of personality? Thematic Apperception Test = a projective test Write a storyline for the pic: What has been happening? What is happening? What will happen? Is your story a projection of your unconscious fears/desires? How valid is this measure?

As treatment progressed EW headaches recurred & got worse Blackouts increased Both EW & EW denied awareness in these blackouts EW state of mind deteriorated (confinement was considered) THEN WHAT HAPPENED!!

Another personality appears! A THIRD personality who called herself JANE JANE had full awareness of EW and EB Neither EW nor EB were aware of JANE

What did Thigpen & Cleckley do? All THREE personalities were tested by electroencephalogram clear differences were recorded therapy continued to treat all THREE women in the ONE body

Psychological Tests TESTS EW EB Jane IQ 110 104 Not done Memory test superior inferior EEG 11 per second (normal) 12.5 per second (psycho-pathic?) 11 per second Personality Repressive Regressive No test Drawings Rigid but healthy Hysterical tendencies

The decision of Thigpen & Cleckley Jane seemed to be the person most likely to bring a solution to the troubled mind She was increasingly dominant over the other personalities

The moral dilemma- ethics! ‘Killing’ one or more personality- how ethical is this? Who should decide which personality stays and which goes?

Other explanations? Was the woman a very good actress (were T & C conned?) Was the woman psychotic (schizophrenic?) Could the hypnotism have caused the multiple personality effect?

What did T & C conclude? They did wonder whether they had become so involved that they ‘lost their sense of judgement and over dramatised the case’ They remain convinced that they witnessed a case of multiple personality Note: A film was made!

The Three faces of Eve - postscript In 1975 a woman came forward and said SHE was EVE White said she had experienced many other personalities both before therapy and since (22 in all) that the fragmentation of her personality had been to protect herself from ‘unbearable experiences’

Ethical problems Killing one/more of the personalities - who should decide this? Making a film for profit - who benefits & what about patient confidentiality? During the treatment Eve White got worse ‘Who’ gives informed consent for the treatment procedures ?

Ethical problems Which personality do you think T & C approved of most? Might there be a ‘culture & gender bias issue here? Were their judgements biased by the ‘social norms’ of the 1950s

Key Concepts EEG – electroencephalogram electrodes placed on head measure brain patterns from the different lobes MPD – a neurosis, not a psychosis like schizophrenia Repressed – suppresses feelings and emotions Regressive – reverts to a childlike stage Psychopath – no empathy for others, egocentric, amoral

Questions you should be able to answer What were the similarities & differences between Eve White and Eve Black? What is the main difference between multiple personality disorder & schizophrenia? What problems with the case study method does this study highlight? What factor(s) may have influenced their diagnosis?

Questions you should be able to answer If Eysenck’s theory of biological basis for personality is CORRECT could Eve have had multiple personalities? Note: These days MPD is called DID ! Disassociative Identity Disorder