2.  Before beginning our discussion on Thigpen and Cleckley answer the following warm up question: › Define the term “personality”.  What is personality?  How do we know what personality actually is? › Definition – an individual’s unique pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that persists over time and across situations.  Psychologists can never “observe” one.  We can only infer personality from behavior.  Personality is not a THING but has to do with how we interact with other people and generally deal with the world.

3.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aBPk46 ZmV0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aBPk46 ZmV0  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lr69IaZ kJY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lr69IaZ kJY › 0 – 1:00 › 1:42 – 8:30 › 18:30 – 27

4.  Case Study – A Case of Multiple Personality (1954)  Authors – Corbett H. Thigpen and Hervey Cleckley  Approach to Psychology – Psychology of Individual Differences › Determining/studying the differences, or abnormalities among people (certain population).  What makes us different!?  Study of abnormalities  Multiple Personality in this case study

5.  See notes on DID (multiple personality disorder)  DID involves two or more integrated personalities residing simultaneously within the same individual › Each personality has its own stable pattern of relating to and interpreting the world. › These personalities seize control of the individual’s behavior on a repeated basis. › Each personality known as an ‘alter’ › Each has its own memories, behavior patterns, social relationships › ‘Switching’ going from one alter to the other.  Is it possible for a person to have more than one personality in mind?

6.  To document the psychotherapeutic treatment of a 25 – year old woman that apparently had MPD. › ‘Eve White’ (real name Christine Sizemore) had a history of severe headaches, blackouts, and memory loss.

7.  Dissociative Identity Disorder › Multiple Personality Disorder  Alter  Psychometric Test › Wechsler – Bellevue Intelligence Scale › Wechsler – Bellevue Memory Scale  Projective Test › Drawings of human figures and Rorschach (ink blot) test  Physiological Test › EEG  Interview  Longitudinal  Case Study  Eve White, Eve Black, Jane

8.  Multiple Personality Disorder › Definition : Disorder characterized by the separation of the personality into two or more distinct personalities. › Application : Eve was found to have three distinct personalities at the end of T & C’s case study.  Longitudinal Study › Definition : Data is gathered for the same subjects repeatedly over a time. › Application : From a study spanning over 14 months, T & C were able to provide sufficient data to conclude that Eve was suffering from MPD.  Psychometric Tests › Definition : Scientific study of psychological assessment; measurement of the mind. › Application : Used to test Eve’s multiple personalities to observe if there were differences.  Wechsler – Bellevue intelligence scale & the Wechsler memory scale.

9.  Projective Tests › Definition : personality tests that are designed to let a person respond to vague or unclear stimuli, presumably revealing hidden emotions and internal conflict shown by the person in the test. › Application : Rorschach ink blot tests were given to Eve White and Eve Black to see if the alters had different emotions and internal conflict, thus showing her different identities.  Rorschach Tests › Definition : A psychological test in which subject’s interpretations of a series of standard inkblots are analyzed as an indication of personality traits, preoccupations, and conflicts. › Application : Rorschach ink blot tests were given to Eve White and Eve Black to see if the alters had different emotions and internal conflict, thus showing her different identities.  http://www.inkblottest.com/ http://www.inkblottest.com/  Individual Differences › Definition : the study of the differences that exist between individuals in a society; study of abnormal behavior. › Application : T & C are study Eve who suffers from MPD, which can be characterized as abnormal behavior.

10.  As the therapy continued with EW and EB, T&C wanted to conduct more tests on Eve for a “scientific basis’  T&C utilized independent experts to administer the tests on both EW & EB PersonalityPsychometricProjectiveBehaviour Eve WhiteIQ 110 Memory far above IQ Poor recall of digits Repression, anxiety – least Healthy Reserved, rigid, responsible Eve BlackIQ 104 Memory similar to IQ Poor recall of digits Regression, hysterical – but most healthy Irresponsible, pleasure- seeking

11.  Case study and a record of a therapeutic process.  Longitudinal – 14 months  Primarily used interviews › Over 100 hours at irregular intervals › Heavily reliant on Eve’s self – reporting › Husband and family was also interviewed  Manners in which Eve’s ‘personalities’ were tested › Psychometric tests:  Wechsler – Bellevue Intelligence Test, Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS)  IQ Testing – White (110) & Black (104)  Memory – White (above IQ) & Black (on par with IQ). › Projective Tests: Drawings of human figures and Rorschach (ink blot) tests. › Physiological test – EEG (Brainwaves)  Analysis of handwriting from alters as well.

12.  T&C used the pseudonym Eve White for the patient (and what became the 1st personality)  At the 1 st interview, EW complained of severe headaches, blackouts, and memory loss › Also discussed marital & personal problems › Disclosed that she also had a 4 yr old daughter  T&C described her as a loving wife & mother who had a repressive personality and was conservative with a shy demeanor  T&C originally thought she may have been schizophrenic

13.  During one interview, EW had no recollection of a documented recent trip that she went on…  Several days after a visit to the therapists, a letter from Eve White appeared at T&C’s office.  The letter discussed her therapy and was written in her usual handwriting, but at the bottom of the page there was a paragraph that looked like a child had written it.

14.  On her next visit Eve White denied sending the letter, though she recalled having begun one, which she never finished and thought she had destroyed.  During the interview, she became distressed and asked “whether hearing voices in her head meant she was insane?” › Several times she held her head as if she was in pain during the interview  “… her hands dropped. There was a quick restless smile, and in a bright voice that sparkled she said ‘Hi there, Doc…’” (p.137)

15. Eve White Eve Black  IQ score 110IQ score 104  Memory – excellentMemory- poor  ConservativeCarefree  Shy Extrovert  DutifulMischievous  Loving wife & mother Denied being wife & mom

16.  After EB appeared, T&C had a new interest in the patient  At first, EB had to be ‘called out’ through hypnosis › later T&C could have her appear just by asking to talk to her  EB could appear anytime during EW’s everyday life  Some things that were revealed during the 14 months of therapy: › EB was around independently since childhood › EW was unaware of EB, but EB was very aware of EW › EW was ‘in abeyance’(suspension, disuse) when EB was ‘out’ › EB could follow the thoughts/actions of EW › EB denied having Bonnie and being married

17.  When EB was in control, she often got EW into trouble › Such as EB partying and letting EW have the hangovers  EB was more prone to lying › made it difficult for T&C to get “true” information & thus skeptical at times › she admitted that she at times imitated EW’s manners/behaviors around family members and immediate family (husband & child)  EB at times hurt EW’s marriage and family › ordering expensive dresses, going to night clubs, flirting w/others › confessed to hurting the daughter & letting EW take the blame

18.  EB “had no desire for sexual relations but often enjoyed frustrating her husband by denying herself to him.” › As a result, he was often abusive of her but let EW take the wrath- EW had no such memories › EB claimed that she removed these memories

19.  After about 8 months of progress… › EW had decreased headaches/blackouts › EW heard less imaginary voices › EW was maintaining a job and gaining financial security with the hopes of fixing her marriage & seeing her daughter again › EB was coming out less & caused less havoc

20.  Almost out of nowhere, headaches started to return › EW’s roommates found her passed out twice from blackouts › EB claimed she was not the cause of the headaches and that she too was experiencing blackouts › T&C told EB that they considered institutionalizing Eve and that this would limit her nonsense as a result  T&C thought that they could eliminate these problems by trying to fuse EW & EB together › They thought that Eve ‘fractured’ in childhood › Wanted to discuss that time, but caused stress for Eve › During one session, EW recalled a painful experience and went motionless in the chair…

21.  Eve asked “who are you?”  T&C said it was apparent that this was not EW or EB- it was another alter - Jane › T&C said that Jane seemed to be more adjusted, mature, and responsible than EB, and more interesting & confident than EW › Jane was aware of both EW & EB › Jane only came out through EW  T&C thought that Jane could ‘take over’ and help Eve live a normal life

22.  EEG test results (administered by professionals) › EW & Jane- 11 cycles/second (normal) › EB- 12.5 cycles/second  Handwriting analysis: 3 different, distinct styles  Jane soon took over many of EW’s tasks at home and work and showed compassion to Ew’s daughter  T&C concluded that if Jane could take possession of the personalities, she would regain full health and have a happy life

23.  T&C noted that they may have been “hoodwinked by a thorough actress” › but stated it was unlikely given the longitudinal study  T&C noted that they may have let their relationship with Eve sway their outlook › They did not specifically diagnose Eve with MPD › They pointed out that though the 3 alters appeared to be distinct & separate, the objective tests were not that impressive  Suggested future MPD research is needed

24.  Deception- only if Eve was lying  Eve was not harmed during this case study…BUT is it possible that there might have been mental trauma through therapy and the discovery of memories?  Consent › Consent was given by Eve for the therapy and interviews. › Consent was not given for videotaping.  Eve could have left at any time › She had the right to withdraw (RTW)  Patient Confidentiality › during the study, it was confidential › revealed herself to public 20 years later

25.  Case predated guidelines for research with human participants › Was Eve treated as more of a subject rather than a patient? Did T&C just use her to make a name for themselves? › Was it right to possibly “kill off” alters?  T&C noted that they did not have enough experience or background in treating such a patient yet they continued without seeking outside help or referring her  Videotape/publish work without her consent  Gender/culture bias? Social norms of 50s?

26.  Longitudinal case study – 14 months, over 100 hours of documented therapy.  Data was gathered both quantitatively and qualitatively › Qualitative Data  Letter correspondence  Interviews/therapy sessions  Projective tests  Rorschach tests  Handwriting analysis › Quantitative Data  Psychometric tests  Wechsler – Bellevue intelligence scale and Wechsler memory scale  EEG tests

27.  Thigpen and Cleckley were convinced that this was a genuine case of MPD. › They were able to ‘witness’ a real case.  No solidified causation of MPD › However, psychologists suggested to T & C that a disorder such as MPD is the response of child abuse.  A way of protection!

28.  Validity › Case study can be considered reliable due to helping Eve, through therapy, cope with her MPD.  However, after the therapy sessions concluded, a multitude of personalities will develop in Eve. › Ecological validity is high  Reliability › MPD may not be diagnosed equally among psychiatrists world wide.  Some psychologists are quicker to diagnose MPD than others.

29.  Strengths › Detailed interviews (taped, written, video) with Eve and relatives › Produced thick, rich qualitative data  most likely difficult to fake over the 14 months › Separate objective tests were utilized (EEG) › Somewhat of a strength in the subjective tests  The attitude tests were later independently analyzed and noted 3 distinct personalities  (15 years later, the secret video of the interviews were also analyzed and showed 3 different patterns of micro-strabismus [(eye axis & movement])

30.  Limitations › Relationship between T&C and Eve (interested in the case when EB appeared and noted her attractiveness)  Were they tricked? Did they overlook something? Did they interpret some things wrong? › The projective tests were subjective › Cannot pinpoint MPD as personality is not stable across time › Cannot generalize case study › Data was based on primarily self-reports (true?, false memories?, purposely false?)