Psychology2016

562 CHAPTER 14

someone else,” which may encourage the client to report more such feelings and even

elaborate on them.

There are some possible biological sources for dissociations as well. Researchers

have found that people with depersonalization/derealization disorder (a dissociative disorder

in which people feel detached and disconnected from themselves, their bodies, and their

surroundings) have lower brain activity in the areas responsible for their sense of body

awareness than do people without the disorder (Simeon et al., 2000). Others have found

evidence that people with dissociative identity disorders show significant differences in

brain activity, as evidenced by PET and fMRI, when different “personalities” are present

(Reinders et al., 2001; Schlumpf et al., 2014; Tsai et al., 1999). It is also possible individuals

with DID may be more elaborative when forming memories and are better at memory

recall as a result (García-Campayo et al., 2009).

Practice Quiz How much do you remember?

Pick the best answer.

1. What is the major difference between dissociative amnesia and
   retrograde amnesia?
   a. Retrograde amnesia patients often suffer from some form of
   physical brain trauma.
   b. Individuals suffering from dissociative amnesia often have
   a history of memory loss that seems to be hereditary.
   c. Those suffering from dissociative amnesia have prior damage to
   the brain, which in turn causes memory loss.
   d. Retrograde amnesia patients often have suffered from painful
   psychological trauma.


2. Franklin wakes up on a cot in a homeless shelter in another town.
   He doesn’t know where he is or how he got there, and he’s
   confused when people say he has been calling himself Anthony.
   This is most likely an episode of dissociative
   a. amnesia. c. identity disorder.
   b. amnesia with fugue. d. multiple personality.
   3. Dr. Cowden believes that Jamison’s dissociation disorder may be
   due to his apparent enhanced ability to think about things other than
   those associated with his traumatic childhood. What psychological
   perspective is Dr. Cowden applying?
   a. psychodynamic perspective
   b. biological perspective
   c. cognitive/behavioral perspective
   d. evolutionary perspective
   4. Dissociative symptoms and features can be found in many different
   cultures. For example, in Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander
   cultures, people sometimes experience a trancelike state called
   ___ that is associated with increased agitation and violent
   tendencies.
   a. “TKS” c. amok
   b. koro d. susto

dissociative amnesia: one cannot remember personal information; may involve

a dissociative fugue in that the person takes a sudden trip and also cannot

remember the trip

dissociative identity disorder: person seems to experience at least two or more

distinct personalities; validity of actual disorder has been topic of debate

causes psychodynamic: primary defense mechanism and rrepressed thoughts and behavior is educes emotional pain

cognitive and behavioral: trauma-related thought avoidance

is negatively reinforced by reduction in anxiety and emotional pain

biological: support for brain activity differences in body awareness has

been found in individuals with depersonalization/derealization disorder

Dissociative Disorders

(involve a dissociation

in consciousness, memory,

or sense of identity, often

associated with extreme

stress or trauma)

Concept Map L.O. 14.7, 14.8

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