Why Dissociative Identity Disorder? Why not Multiple Personality Disorder?
In order to avoid moral and religious conflict, the diagnosis term was changed from “Multiple Personality Disorder” to “Dissociative Identity Disorder” in the United States. The term “dissociative identity” refers to the idea that personalities in a multiple system are not actually personalities. Instead, they are dissociated parts of a “core” personality, who lives with the delusion of having separate personalities. Personalities are actually just aspects of a single self that have been disowned and given another name. I have chosen not to present this definition of DID. While I do believe this to an extent, I believe that personalities can be more than just an aspect with a name, a delusional “dissociated identity”. Sometimes there is no “core” personality, and sometimes personalities actually split off other personalities. I think the definition is too limiting, so I have chosen to present it in a more neutral light that is more sympathetic to the people who experience this conditio
