1. “This presentation contains copyrighted material under the educational fair use exemption to the U.S. copyright law”
Thigpen & Cleckley (1954)
AICE Psych- Individual Differences

2. A Case of Multiple Personality
Thigpen & Cleckley (1954)
AICE Psych- Individual Differences

3. Background (Defining DID/MPD)
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) (formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder [MPD])-
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.
According to DSM-5- a sudden, temporary alteration in the normally integrated functions of
consciousness, identity, or motor behaviour

4. Background (characteristics of DID)
2+ personalities coexist within the same individual
Each personality known as ‘alter’
Each has its own memories, behaviour patterns, social relationships, etc.
One personality is dominant at one time
‘Switching’- going from one alter to the other
may be induced by a trigger cue, stress, or hypnosis
Original personality usually unaware others exist
Other personalities may have characteristics that the original lacks
Controversial diagnosis- exists?
reportings have at least 2 but some have 30 something and some even more than 100 (really rare)
or sub personality
but others are aware of original and may be aware or unaware of the others
they never truly diagnosed her from the study

5. Background (diagnosing/treating)
Diagnosing relied on patient’s subjective reporting- very skeptical to medical/psychiatric community
With tech today, we can use more objective measures to examine if ‘different’ personalities exist within one person
switch in brain waves doesn’t prove theres someone else in there but there is a distinct change

6. Aim of the Study Aim of the investigation:
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 and blackouts & memory loss
1990 picture
went in to the clear this up because no other doctors could figure it out

7. Methodology & Procedure
Case & longitudinal study: 14 months
Primarily used interviews
over 100 hours at irregular intervals
heavily reliant on Eve’s self-reporting
husband & family also interviewed
Hypnosis & observations used as well
strengths/ weaknesses of case and longitudinal

8. Methodology & Procedure
Manners in which Eve’s ‘personalities’ were tested
Psychometric tests:
Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Test (precursor to WAIS)
Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS)
Projective tests: Rorschach & drawing human figures
Physiological test: EEG
Analysis of handwriting from alters as well
aice will ask a question on these tests
- handwriting : key because one of the letters sent to the doctors was distinctly different from other personalities

9. ‘EW’- Eve White
T&C used the pseudonym Eve White for the patient (and what became the 1st personality)
At the 1st 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
sch: because of her report of hearing voices but she was disturbed by the voices which sch usually arent

10. (start of change) During one interview, EW had no
recollection of a documented recent
trip that she went on…
T&C used hypnosis to help…
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
that her and her family went on, it was documented with pictures and the family talked about it
she said she wrote it but said that she had never sent it so she has no idea why they received it

11. (changing…)
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)

12. (ta-da! The change to ‘EB’)
When T&C realized something
was different, they asked who she was,
response was “Oh, I’m Eve Black”
Different to Eve White
Referred to EW as “she” or “her”
“Minute alterations in manner, gesture, expression... Could only be another woman”
The voice & language structure were also very different, and to T&C it, appeared to be an entirely different woman
She “had a childish daredevil air, an erotically
mischievous glance, a face marvelously free from
the habitual signs of care, seriousness, and
underlying distress”
- everything ew was, eb had no sense of stress

13. EW vs. EB
Eve White Eve Black
IQ score IQ score 104
Memory – excellent Memory- poor
Conservative Carefree
Shy Extrovert
Dutiful Mischievous
Loving wife & mother Denied being wife & mom
Actual T&C video snippet
Short clip of changes
IQ still within 1 SD so there is a difference even if not statistically significant

14. (during therapy- EB impacted EW’s life)
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’ when EB was ‘out’
EB could follow the thoughts/actions of EW
EB denied having Bonnie and being married
now we are rulling out sch, etc. they didn’t know what was going on and then when EB appeared, more attractive- they cared
supposedly going back to childhood where even weeks at a time, EB could come out
age 6 or 7
EW had no control when EB was out

15. (during therapy- EB impacted EW’s life)
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” info & thus skeptical at times
she admitted that she at times imitated EW’s manners/behaviours 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

16. (Results of testing)
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
Personality
Psychometric
Projective
Behaviour
Eve White
IQ 110
Memory far above IQ
Poor recall of digits
Repression,
anxiety – least
Healthy
Reserved,
rigid,
responsible
Eve Black
IQ 104
Memory similar to IQ
Regression,
hysterical – but
most healthy
Irresponsible,
pleasure-
seeking
be familiar with different ways of testing
when EB was in trouble, she would regress back to childhood state of tantrums, etc
they deem EB as most healthy even though she was the crazy one- would different cultures look at this differenlty depending on how women are supposed to act?

17. (more revelations during interviews)
A distant relative claims the patient had been previously married/living with someone…
Both EW and EB denied this
EB eventually admitted it– says there was “some sort of ceremony” though no legal paperwork anywhere
Basically, this was a long period of EB being out and being able to control Eve
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

18. (things get better… than worse)
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
telephone operator with odds and ends jobs here and there

19. (going down the slippery slope…)
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…
differences here between actual case study and the movie

20. (third time’s the charm…)
(p.144) 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
shes the most normal of all so maybe she can take over and have the others go away

21. (Testing results between EW, EB, & Jane)
EEG test results (administered by professionals)
EW & Jane- 11 cycles/second (normal)
EB 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
EB had distinct difference for EEG
handwriting analysis is not considered a valid measure in many aspects of psychological science

22. (one is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do?)
T&C asked themselves “would any physician order euthanasia…?”
Basically, was it right to ‘rid’ Eve of EW and EB in lieu of Jane?
After EW saved a little boy in a street, Jane wrote letters saying that she did not want EW to go yet as she wanted to know more about her
And that’s it… no Hollywood ending…
alters were not merged at the time

23. Discussion
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
sometimes you like your clients and this could affect how you see them
THEY DID NOT DIAGNOSE HER!
IQ difference of 6 points is not that substantial

24. Postscript- do not talk about on test!
After several months of therapy after Jane appeared, EW was able to recall a traumatic event
at age 6, her aunt forced her to kiss her dead grandmother
During this time, Eve already married a new guy and another alter, Evelyn, appeared
Evelyn had all the memories of the other 3 and acted much more mature than the others
The movie, The Three Faces of Eve, came out in 1957
It was revealed that T&C were writing a
book on Eve
Also revealed that Thigpen filmed
portions of their interviews that were
available for public use
DON’T MENTION THIS IN YOUR ESSAYS!
filming her without her permission available at georgia library without her permission

25. Postscript- do not talk about on test!
In 1975, Chris Sizemore revealed that she was Eve
Said she had other alters before and after therapy (22 total)
At least 9 before EB
Said she developed these alters as young as 2 years old
after instances of seeing a man drown, a man cut in three by a saw, and her mom badly cut
In 1977, she released I’m Eve that differs from T&C’s account with an earlier childhood, more alters, and longer time frame.
In 1991, says she was adjusted &
living fine

26. Strengths of the Study
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])
casette recording: there is peculation if she was informed of this or not
mixed methods but predom. Qual
- 15 years later, they said there were 3 distinct patterns (DON’T WRITE ABOUT THIS ON THE TEST!!!! JUST THE STUDY NOT 15 YEARS LATER)

27. Weaknesses of the Study
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?)

28. Ethical Issues (general)
Deception- only if Eve was lying
Harm- most likely not, but possible mental trauma through therapy and memories?
Consent- given for therapy/interviews, but not for videotaping
RTW- Eve could have left at any time
Patient Confidentiality
during the study, it was confidential
revealed herself to public 20 years later

29. Ethical Issues & Ecological Validity
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?
hwo do you know youre killing the right ones?
as a therapist, you have an obligation to refer out clients that you don’t have an expertise to see