Who is 'who' in dissociation?: A plea for psychodynamics in a time of trauma

Abstract

Contemporary theories of dissociation and trauma for the most part have evolved outside of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalytic writings have also been regarded as being in opposition to trauma-based notions of human psychopathology. The specific psychoanalytic contribution--the emphasis on unconscious conflict and meaning--is for the most part excluded from the discourse on dissociation, often resulting in a 'mechanic' conceptualisation of trauma. In this paper, based on clinical material, the author argues in favour of including conflict, unconscious intention and personal meaning in understanding the kind of dissociation we see in cases of multiple personality pathology. Textual analysis of letters written to the analyst illustrates how events of abuse are defensively elaborated. The author demonstrates that patterns of affect regulation and dominant object-relational strategies can be captured through analysis of the discourse structure. She focuses on how an organised character pattern, revealed mainly through narrative style and the analyst's countertransference, serves protective purposes as well as wish-fulfillment. She argues that dissociation in the form of multiple personalities may imply an active, strategic agent.

The lost mother tongue: An interview study with Finnish war children

“…This adoption of unknowing was also her way of reacting, which possibly can be seen as dissociation. Dissociation cannot be understood as a psychic defense but rather as a mechanism that splits the personality (Gullestad, 2005;Varvin, 2010). She probably experienced being sent away to Sweden as shameful since she says she was sent by freight train, which is hardly the case according to a Finnish researcher who studied the circumstances surrounding the evacuation (Kaven, 2010).…”

“…A difficult or painful feeling brought on by an emotional experience may lead to an attempt to evacuate the feeling but it can also lead to attempts to modify it -if the individual can tolerate frustration but what is affected by dissociation is the actual experience of a self and of a personal agenda of one's own (Gullestad, 2005). The capacity to symbolize is affected by trauma as well (Garland, 2004).…”

Trenger vi overjeget?

“…Du fortjener ikke å lykkes med noe her i livet.» Et viktig mål for psykoterapi er å få belyst disse ubevisste og førbevisste tankene og følelsene; se på dem, kna dem, forsøke å rekonstruere bakgrunnen for dem, modifisere dem og slik få et mer romslig og tolerant overjeg. Til og med dissosiative tilstander av Jekyll/Hyde-typen vil kunne vaere tilgjengelige for behandling (5).…”

El Espejo del vacío: Trastorno por Stress Post Traumático y fenómenos disociativos en la narrativa de Paul Auster

“…4 El significado ulterior del trauma es discutido, y la mayoría de las teorías contemporáneas que asocian disociación y trauma han evolucionado fuera del psicoanálisis. 7 Gullestad afirma que:…”

“…"la contribución específica del psicoanálisis (el énfasis en los conflictos subconscientes y su significado) ha sido excluido del discurso disociativo, generalmente dando lugar a una conceptualización "mecánica" del trauma…" 7 .…”