Personality

The Self and PersonalityEvery individual has a personality that is composed of many diverse, fragmentary and generally illusory images of [[Personality|self]]. (see multiples) The DSM-IV uses the term identity in its definition of dissociation. (see identity) {{Rp|127}}

The Self is not another word for personality, but to discuss personality and Self together is helpful in its understanding. The Self is a concept that is both subject and object, and is an ongoing, life long, and largely subjective construction that is never finished, and will change with input to the Self. The construct of the personality, on the other hand, is objective, and relatively permanent and internal. It is a construct of personal history and stable predispositions which to respond to.

Definition of Personality

In the landmark book, Dissociation and the Dissociative Disorders, Nijenhuis and den Boer discuss genetic factors and gene-environment interaction as they define personality as "the dynamic organization within the individual of those biopsychosocial systems that determine his or her characteristic actions." Personality is in part, an interaction between our genetic makeup and the environment in which we interact.

Personality as related to Dissociative Identity Disorder

Frank Putnum, a long time leader in the area of Dissociative Identity Disorder has long emphasized that humans do not begin life with a unified personality, but instead the human personality must become linked over time. This linking is what is referred to as integration. Integration is not making all parts one, instead it is the linking of all parts so they can work together as in the normal brain.

Definition of Self

The idea that the self is a unitary thing and isolated things is an illusionIllusions are distortions of real images or sensations, however hallucinations are not based on things which are not real. Illusions have many different causes include being substance related, or caused by a disorder such as Schizophrenia or PTSD (reexperiencing the truma). {{Rp|168,260}}. In infancy a child cries, wakes, sleeps, drinks, eliminates, etc... These are behavioral states which at first are due to biology, and are quite distinct. Over time they become linked, more so if a child receives appropriate care and parenting. More linking occurs, but the human mind maintains a distinction between parts so the parts can perform various jobs or roles, that make it possible for us to adapt to changing situations. All humans have multiple and varied selves.

Relationships shape our various Selves

Research shows that our relationship histories (see attachment) between the various parts, and with other humans shape our patterns of feeling, attitudes and meanings that we are likely to exhibit throughout our lives.

A Single Self-State

Whichever self is present in the moment is influenced by our relationship history with other humans and with our various Selves. These Self-States might even conflict with each other. Achieving greater linking and a sense of coherence is beneficial to all individuals.

The Selves of the MindThe mind exist independently of the brain, is made up of various parts, and is a mental, rather than a physical organ like the brain. It relates to our inner subjective experience and the process of being conscious or aware. In addition, the mind can also be defined as a process that regulates the flow of energy and information within our bodies and within our relationships, an emergent and self organizing process that gives rise to our mental activities such as emotion, thinking, and memory." {{Rp|1}} (see integration) make up a System

Our system of relatively distinct, but interdependent Self-States exists across time.