Essentials of Understanding Abnormal Behavior Chapter Five

1. Essentials of Understanding Abnormal Behavior Chapter Five Dissociative Disorders and Somatoform Disorders

2. Dissociative Disorders and Somatoform Disorders Dissociative disorders: Mental disorders in which a person�s identity, memory, and consciousness are altered or disrupted Somatoform disorders: Involve physical symptoms or complaints that have no physiological basis We all dissociate all the time -when we do one thing (make a left hand turn) while thinking about another (talking on the phone). We all are capable of splitting our consciousness in different directions and the ability to do so is not necessarily abnormal. In dissociative disorders, normal, adaptive ability to dissociate is misused for the purposes of managing severe psychological threat. Without conscious effort, the individual splits consciousness or memory in order to manage a severe psychological threat. We all dissociate all the time -when we do one thing (make a left hand turn) while thinking about another (talking on the phone). We all are capable of splitting our consciousness in different directions and the ability to do so is not necessarily abnormal. In dissociative disorders, normal, adaptive ability to dissociate is misused for the purposes of managing severe psychological threat. Without conscious effort, the individual splits consciousness or memory in order to manage a severe psychological threat.

3. Dissociative Disorders Dissociative disorders: Mental disorders in which a person�s identity, memory, or consciousness is altered or disrupted: Dissociative amnesia Dissociative fugue Dissociative identity disorder (DID, formerly Multiple Personality Disorder) Depersonalization disorder

4. Figure 6.1: Disorders Chart: Dissociative Disorders