The Theory of Trauma-Related Structural Dissociation of the Personality (Ch. 16 Dell)

Question 1

The concept of dissociation began with what fundamental idea?

Answer 1

The 150-year history of dissociation began with a fun- damental idea: components of the personality or con- sciousness may become divided from each other under conditions of extreme stress and may manifest as differ- ent psychobiological conditions

Question 2

Describe trauma-related dissociation?

Answer 2

We propose that trauma-related dissociation refers to the existence of at least two self-organizing systems of psychobiological states. These dissociative systems are parts of the personality, each with its own sense of self that is insufficiently integrated with the other. However, they share some underlying implicit and explicit functions and mental contents.

We maintain that trauma-related dissociation is primarily an ongoing integrative deficit that results in a structural dissociation of the personality. Only secondarily is dissociation a psychological defense.

Dissociative symptoms (structural dissociation) may be understood as positive (i.e., intrusions) or negative (i.e., losses); they also may be understood as mental (i.e., psychoform dissociative symptoms) or somatic (i.e., somatoform dissociative symptoms

Question 3

a

Answer 3

our clinical work repeatedly showed us that different dissociative parts handle different functions in defense and daily life.

Question 4

What does the integration consist of?

Answer 4

Mental health is characterized by the capacity to integrate ongoing events into a coherent personality that allows for adaptive functioning

Integration is grounded in two essential mental actions:

• 1. Synthesis
     - Synthesis meaningfully associates experiences and functions into more complex experiences and functions; this process generates the ever-evolving personality.
• 2. Realization
     - Realization analyzes and digests facts and personal experiences; it is the process by which one becomes fully aware of the implications of facts and experiences for one’s life

Integration is based on two aspects of synthesis: (1) synthesis of components of experiences (sensations, per- ceptions, including sense of self and behavioral actions) within a given episode of time into meaningful and coherent mental structures
and (2) synthesis of experiences, knowledge, and functions across time into a coherent personality.

Janet maintained that adaptive behavior depends upon one’s synthetic capacity to create meaningful combinations of sensations, affects, behaviors, and perceptions of the environment within a given moment and across time. Thus, adaptive response to extremely stressful events requires the capacity to synthesize one’s sensory, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions within a coherent mental structure.

Question 5

Describe how Integration is based on synthesis?

Answer 5

a

Question 6

Not Finished

Answer 6

a