Thigpen and Cleckley

Question 1

1. Thigpen and Cleckley were therapists who studied a case of Multiple Personality Disorder.
   a) Outline one problem with the evidence that they collected in this study. (2)

b) Suggest how they might have dealt with this problem. (2)

Answer 1

• The evidence collected may be biased because the researchers may believe that they have come across a case of MPD and therefore are more likely to interpret what could be typical behaviour changes for a patient with psychological difficulties as being evidence for a different personality.
• They could have videotaped the therapy sessions and passed this footage on to other researchers and they too could have interpreted the evidence gathered.

Question 2

2. Thigpen and Cleckley diagnosed their patient as suffering from Multiple personality. Describe two pieces of evidence from the case study that suggest that the patient did have the disorder. (4)

Answer 2

• EEG shows that tenseness was most pronounced in EB, next EW and then Jane. EW and Jane had a fairly similar alpha rhythm whereas EB’s was a little bit faster.
• There was also evidence of restlessness and generalised muscle tension in EB’s tracings but not in the others.

Question 3

3. In the study by Thigpen and Cleckley on Multiple Personality the therapist described the first time Eve Black ‘appeared’. He noted that Eve White was transformed from a retiring figure into a feminine apparition.
   a) How did the therapist interpret this observation? (2)

b) Give one other interpretation of this observation. (2)

Answer 3

• The therapist interpreted this apparition as a childishly daredevil air, an erotically mischievous glance, a face marvellously free from the habitual signs of care, seriousness and underlying distress… care free girl.
• The devil entered the prompter’s box, and the play was ready to start.

Question 4

4. In the study by Thigpen and Cleckley it might be suggested that the patient had several personalities. Describe one piece of evidence that might suggest she did have several personalities and one piece of evidence that suggests she didn’t have several personalities. (4)

Answer 4

• One piece of evidence that suggest that the patient had several personalities is that the EEG shows that tenseness was most pronounced in EB, next EW and then Jane. EW and Jane had a fairly similar alpha rhythm whereas EB’s was a little bit faster.
• One piece of evidence that suggest that the patient did not have several personalities is that A handwriting expert looking at Eve White’s first letter and decided that, though the writing style was different for Eve Black’s footnote, it was clearly written by the same person

Question 5

5. Thigpen and Cleckley say that they may have been in part responsible for the appearance of Jane.
   a) Explain how they might be responsible. (2)

b) Outline what they decide to do to resolve the multiple personalities. (2)

Answer 5

• Therapists may be responsible for Jane’s appearance since her emergence was really due to the process of therapy. They did not create Jane but played a part in it.

The therapists decided to what extent they would encourage Jane to take over from the others. They had some choice about which personality to reinforce but ultimately the choice lay with patient.

Question 6

6. Outline one strength and one weakness of the case study method as it was used by Thigpen and Cleckley. (4)

Answer 6

• One strength of the case study method is that researchers are able to collect rich in-depth qualitative data which gives researchers an insight into the behaviour/phenomenon being measured or observed
• One weakness of the case study method is that they have a tendency to have a restricted sample which is not representative of the target population. The findings gathered from a small sample cannot be generalised.