Dissociation Flashcards
What is dissociation?
The splitting or separation of“normal” mental, emotional, and or behavioral functioning.
What are the current assumptions about dissociation?
Capability – At least some are able to do it – likely on a continuum (Similar to Hypnotizability)
Non-uniqueness – similar to other human capacities
Likely shares features of other cognitive capacities e.g., absorption
Diversification – variety of forms, affects broad range of states (current, dispositional), along various continua
E.g., frequency, severity, completeness, reversibility, degree of functional isolation.
Ownership – what is dissociated from someone is always their own states
E.g., sensory, cognitive, volition
Accessibility – theoretically reversible
i.e., potentially knowable in conscious awareness
What are some functions that dissociation can affect (in a pathological manner)?
Affect regulation – e.g., Depression, Social Anxiety Disorder
Disruption of Identity – e.g., Splitting (failure to integrate positive and negative aspects), Fragmentation of Self
Auto-hypnotic – e.g., Trance, Time Distortions
Behaviour – e.g., Poor Impulse Control, Self-Harm
Memory – e.g., Fugue, Amnesia
Revitalization of Past Trauma – e.g., Flashbacks, Hallucination
What is Janet’s theory of the etiology of dissociation?
Constitution interacts with extreme environment causing cognitive/affective disintegration
What is Freud’s theory of the etiology of dissociation?
Environment interacts with psychological processes. Trauma results in defense to manage anxiety and avoid re-traumatization.
What is the Contemporary theory of the etiology of dissociation?
Defence pattern entrenched, becomes automatic and uncontrolled response to stress
What is the Object Relations theory of the etiology of dissociation?
Trauma necessitates premature maturation of ‘false’ self used in survival of trauma
Is trauma in and of itself enough to shatter self-organization?
No, psychological processes do in an effort to protect sense of self as cohesive
Is dissociation always pathological?
Can be seen as part of the normative process of the developing self.
Normal decline in use as one gets older;
child to adult – difference in cognitive ability to recognize discontinuity in behaviour and/or sense of awareness
However, if it continues into adulthood maybe indicative of pathological use.
How can we conceptualize development?
A series of qualitative re-organizations
Earlier adaptation is framework and is transformed by later adaptations via integration of various domains of functioning related to developmental stage/issues
What is at core of early development?
Emotional regulation
What is the role of Caregiver(s) in the development of emotional regulation?
An important role in emotional regulation
Caregiver serves as primary relationship
Emotional regulations requires limit setting, monitoring etc.
Expectation of availability of caregiver important in process
Role in adaptation by promoting closeness in relationships
When do Relational distortions occur?
Occurs when emotions fail to achieve purpose
Occurs when emotions are activated but expression is blocked or punished.
Distortion of emotional regulation due to distorted care
What is Psychopathological dissociation?
Represents distortion of core self
Adaptive processes can result in healthy integration vs dissociation
What happens when Development occurs without integration?
Children with higher capabilities may use dissociation as defence strategy
If trauma, distortion of care, etc. development proceeds using alternate path
Dissociation maybe used as substitute to organize experiences
