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From Fragmentation to Negotiation: Assimilation of Alters in a Case of Dissociative Identity Disorder

Humphreys, Carol Lee Bentall
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1259878153

Abstract Details

2009, Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, Psychology.
This case study examined the psychological changes shown by Kristen, a female client diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, across four years of psychotherapy. A team of eight (six coinvestigators, myself as the primary investigator and former therapist, as well as my dissertation advisor) tracked Kristen and her alters’ shift in experience from internal fragmentation at therapy intake to dramatically increased communication among her alters at termination. This change process included the gradual reduction of Kristen’s internal amnesic barriers as she actively engaged in therapy. Her experience of “pulling one brick out at a time” was examined using the assimilation model, a theory of psychological change. We analyzed therapy notes, psychological reports, audio-tapes, video-tapes, transcribed therapy sessions, client-produced emails, drawings, and letters to further an understanding as to how change occurs in therapy for those who experience fragmentation. This was a theory-building study, informing the assimilation model as well as evaluating its account of Kristen’s extreme experiences of internal multiplicity.
Willam B. Stiles, PhD (Committee Chair)
Roger M. Knudson, PhD (Committee Member)
Larry M. Leitner, PhD (Committee Member)
Paul V. Anderson, PhD (Committee Member)
245 p.
Psychology; Psychotherapy
assimilation model; Dissociative Identity Disorder; DID; subcommunities; voices; internal multiplicity; dissociation; case study; theory building; qualitative research

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Humphreys, C. L. B. (2009). From Fragmentation to Negotiation: Assimilation of Alters in a Case of Dissociative Identity Disorder [Doctoral dissertation, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1259878153

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Humphreys, Carol. From Fragmentation to Negotiation: Assimilation of Alters in a Case of Dissociative Identity Disorder. 2009. Miami University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1259878153.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Humphreys, Carol. "From Fragmentation to Negotiation: Assimilation of Alters in a Case of Dissociative Identity Disorder." Doctoral dissertation, Miami University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1259878153

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

miami1259878153
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© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.