The Bifurcation of the Self - The History and Theory of Dissociation and Its Disorders (Hardcover, 2006 ed.)

The goal of this book is to trace the history of the theory of dissociation and related processes from the 17th century to the present. Using case history methodology, The Bifurcation of the Self will illustrate the relationship between theory and practice from one decade to the next. This will illuminate the basic theoretical and epistemological issues that are necessary to understand the processes of dissociation (both normal and abnormal aspects) and the role of hypnosis and its relationship to organic and hysterical epilepsy. One of the basic aspects of this book will deal with the social construction of the myth of Dissociated Identity Disorder, formerly Multiple Personality Disorder. This will be exemplified by the story of Sybil Dorsett, who by virtue of the book Sybil, written by Flora Schrieber and Dr. Cornelia Wilbur, has become the most famous case of MPD/DID in our time. By elaborating on the book and subsequent movie, this volume will show how the Sybil case became a creation driven by social distress, itself having an impact on theory making.