MULTIPLE PERSONALITY AND SPLITTING PHENOMENA: A RECONCEPTUALIZATION

Abstract

Human multiple personality and splitting phenomena described in the psychoanalytic literature were placed in juxtaposition. A reconceptualization of multiple personality was attempted. The splitting of multiple personality was assumed to be qualitatively similar to the splitting in narcissistic character disorders, and the genetic antecedents of multiple personality could be traced to the narcissistic phase. Some of the literature pertaining to multiple personality was reviewed, followed by selected psychoanalytic sources referring to developmental issues and pathology in narcissistic character disorders. Material from 3 cases was presented to illustrate the various levels of multiple personality and to show its continuity with narcissistic disorders.