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“Multiple personality disorder” probably doesn't exist

freddiedeboer.substack.com

111–120 of 175 posts

Re: “Multiple personality disorder” probably doesn't exist

#112
Foucault implied the same. Or at least, suggested that as the scientific definitions are created so too does the phenomena emerge. Ian Hacking expanded upon this and named this concept, dynamic nominalism.

That's why we had "madmen" in 19th century and that no longer exists, only to be subsumed by supposedly more specific new descriptions that psychologists have come up with.

The idea of dynamic nominalism is not that such a label as "Multiple Personality" is contrived but that the described phenomena becomes real. The two simultaneously and unconsciously converge, in a sense, to exist.

My own thought is that you can this expand concept for a lot of current & former social categories that are even broader - and not restricted to psychology, such as being a hippie. And also the social category that is currently in vogue.

Re: “Multiple personality disorder” probably doesn't exist

#113
post #85
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Eh, I understand the concern because it freaked me out (and sometimes still freaks me out) too. I keep a close eye on it. Thing is, mental illness is defined by a mental state that causes distress for oneself or the people around them, and I know there is disagreement about that. (Are homosexuals mentally ill? What about Christians?) I wouldn't recommend other people make one, but my tulpa has been really helpful for…

Are you seeing any healthcare professionals? You have mentioned a number of things going on in your life (depression, anxiety, substance use, childhood trauma) that doctors are trained to help with.

I have been a lot less depressed after switching antidepressants. As for talk therapy, I should probably get back into it but I'm traveling a lot lately and I've only had negative experiences in the past.

Re: “Multiple personality disorder” probably doesn't exist

#114
This article is trying to make an excellent point (emphasized in the second half of the write-up), but the claim that "DID probably doesn't event exist" is untrue, and but I'm sure the author only meant as click-bait.

DID does exist, the problem seems to be the willingness of many psychologists & medical professionals to broaden the definition to encompass much of the phenomena we see on Tik-Tok.

Could it be that all young kids are extremely impressionable, and without a consistent culturally-enforced set of values (especially regarding identity), it's perfectly plausible for many of them identify (at the personality level) with a number of influencers that they follow on that platform? And how is that ultimately affecting their general mental health, even if they are not outwardly unhappy?

Re: “Multiple personality disorder” probably doesn't exist

#115

I think quite a few identity-centered mental illnesses might actually be particular delusions, and in some cases we may be grouping people subject to one mental abnormality with others who are under the delusion they have that abnormality. That could explain why certain subsets of people exhibit symptoms which don't match the normal presentation. For example, and anecdotally based on my personal experience, people un…

"The ones I hypothesize are actually subject to a delusion of being transgender don't act like that. Their personality shifts radically after transitioning and they behave like an exaggerated caricature of their target gender and have a very difficult time navigating small group dynamics of their target gender."

Generally speaking, I doubt your trans friends (if you have any) would enjoy being hypothesized about in this way. The same is true for any marginalized group.

Secondly, you seem to have decided what appropriate and inappropriate gender performance is all on your own, and then drawn a bright line between 'real' and 'fake' around it.

You are probably not aware that, historically, for many trans women, if they didn't present as 'female enough' (as perceived by their doctor) they'd lose access to medical care. This is still true today in the UK and US to a lesser degree.

So for example, if you were their doctor, your patients would talk about you behind your back and zero-in on exactly what lie they'd have to tell to get their treatments.

Suddenly, you'd have ample evidence that 'fake' trans women don't show up in your office, reinforcing your beliefs.

There is no one 'right' way to be a man or a woman, same is true for trans men or women.

Re: “Multiple personality disorder” probably doesn't exist

#118

I think quite a few identity-centered mental illnesses might actually be particular delusions, and in some cases we may be grouping people subject to one mental abnormality with others who are under the delusion they have that abnormality. That could explain why certain subsets of people exhibit symptoms which don't match the normal presentation. For example, and anecdotally based on my personal experience, people un…

Are flamboyant homosexual men also caricatures and not “really” homosexuals?

It sounds like you haven’t spent enough time with enough LGBT people

Re: “Multiple personality disorder” probably doesn't exist

#119

This article is chock full of cynicism with no actual factual reasoning. Deeply reactionary and without any actual point. A polemic, at best. Need I count the number of references to tumblr, tiktok, social media memes, dyed-hair left-leaning millennials with quirky personalities? All that self-victimization, which is all for the purpose of, let me guess, attention ? You're the one writing articles on the internet, my…

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Re: “Multiple personality disorder” probably doesn't exist

#120

The phenomenon of mental illness & trauma-based clout is intriguing and I don’t really understand it. Certainly a conservative trope for the balance of my life has been one of victimhood, from the notion of a persecuted majority to the plight of small business ownership. If it’s a liberal trope to be victim of one’s genetic makeup and life experiences the logical conclusion is that one shouldn’t feel remorse for not…

> The phenomenon of mental illness & trauma-based clout is intriguing and I don’t really understand it. Society right now likes to reward people who seek some form of victimhood, so it's no surprise people would fraudulently claim they are victims for internet brownie points, or donations... it's just an aspect of our ultra narcissistic society, tik tok driven.

I don't think it's necessarily what I'd call narcissism. We look back on history and see people championing causes and things for real victims, e.g. the civil rights movement. I think a lot of people feel a weird guilt at not having a chance to be one of these great, celebrated people or someone fighting that struggle.

Or maybe it is narcissism and it's a selfish desire to say "look at how much better we left the world!" I don't know. The first time I saw it was with a friend's mother who literally said to her "why couldn't you have been a lesbian?" because she wanted to have a personal cause. One day it dawned on me that she had just missed being old enough for the '60s.

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