19
Certain circumstances or stressors can cause a particular alter to emerge. The various identities may deny knowledge of one another, be critical of one another or appear to
be in open conflict.
2.4.1 The Characteristic of Dissociative Identity Disorder or Multiple Personality Disorder
Multiple personality disorder would have some criteria that indicate to the person who has the symptoms of multiple personality disorder. Here are described
some of the characteristics of multiple personality disorder. Richard P. Halgin and Susan Krauss Whitbourne in Abnormal Psychology;
Clinical Perspectives on Psychology Disorders 2009: 193-194 said that the
characteristics of DID, has at least two distinct identities or personality states, each with its own pattern of perceiving, thinking, and relating, as well as its own style of
behavior, personal history, and self-image. People with dissociative identity disorder also experience a form of amnesia, in which they have gaps in their memory about
some aspects of their personal history. Some individuals have gaps that span years, or even a decade or more. Sometimes only when other people tell them about events
do they become aware of something they have done or said. Barlow and Durand in Abnormal Psychology; An Integrative Approach,
Seventh Edition 2012: 201 said that the diagnostic criteria for DID are:
A. Disruption of identity characterized by two or more distinct personality
states.
20
B. Recurrent gaps in the recall of everyday events, important personal
information, and or traumatic events that are inconsistent with ordinary forgetting.
C. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in
social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. D.
The disturbance is not a normal part of a broadly accepted cultural or religious practice. In children, the symptoms are not attributable to
imaginary play mates or other fantasy play. E.
The symptoms are not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance, or another medical condition.
Richard P. Kluft in Childhood Antecedents of Multiple Personality 1987: 40 explains that there are three diagnostic criteria for multiple personality disorder in
DSM-III: 1 the existence within an individual of two or more distinct personalities, each of which is in control of the body at different times; 2 the personality that is
dominant determines ongoing behavior; and 3 each personality is complex and has its own unique history, behavior patterns, and social relationships.
Moreover, multiple personality disorder or dissociative identity disorder come from depression, and a very deep trauma that cause several mental disorder which
the effect of this disorder is the outbreak of multiple personalities. Usually the typical of the sufferer from this disease usually experience some sort of symptoms, such as,
amnesia.
21
CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design
