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Cool multiplicity paper alert, should we do a whole thread of neat quotes from it as we read??
Who am I kidding, we’re doing it, here we go:
Critiquing the Requirement of Oneness over Multiplicity: An Examination of Dissociative Identity (Disorder) in Five Clinical Texts
Critiquing the Requirement of Oneness over Multiplicity: An Examination of Dissociative Identity (Disorder) in Five Clinical Texts
Published in the journal of applied psychiatry by Kymbra Clayton.
It starts off with a quote, which I feel like beautifully sets the stage
“Shall my cure be a far greater burden
Than the one I now bear on my own?
For when the battle is won
You will go home
And it is I who must continue alone. (Anon)”
“Shall my cure be a far greater burden
Than the one I now bear on my own?
For when the battle is won
You will go home
And it is I who must continue alone. (Anon)”
Talks about philosophy of selfhood which is important background:
“Those who embrace an alternate view of self offer the concept of an inherently plural, fluid, flexible, fragmented and decentred self, formed and constrained by social processes...
“Those who embrace an alternate view of self offer the concept of an inherently plural, fluid, flexible, fragmented and decentred self, formed and constrained by social processes...
...From this perspective a plural self consists of a multiplicity of positions, voices, states of mind and functions (Neimeyer & Raskin, 2000); each self “is a source of differing interpretations of the world, based on differing interpretive schemes” (Lester, 1994, p. 312). “
Anyways I can’t really quote this Bc it’s long we just read this and went 
This paper is analyzing some of the old DID bigwigs:
“The questions that are posited are “how are descriptions produced so that they will be treated as factual?” and “how are these factual descriptions put together in ways that allow them to perform particular actions?”
“The questions that are posited are “how are descriptions produced so that they will be treated as factual?” and “how are these factual descriptions put together in ways that allow them to perform particular actions?”
Wow didn’t know Collin Ross really just rolled racism, sexism, and pluralphobia all together to make the case for why integration is necessary. Huh.
Tw: hard drugs, oppressive language
“The desire for intense dissociated states is built into our DNA… such states are wonderful, desirable, and healthy in their natural form… but there is nothing wonderful about the chemical ecstasy of the heroin-addicted ghetto prostitute.”
“The desire for intense dissociated states is built into our DNA… such states are wonderful, desirable, and healthy in their natural form… but there is nothing wonderful about the chemical ecstasy of the heroin-addicted ghetto prostitute.”
“This is why there is psychiatry of dissociation, the goal of which is to substitute healthy, normal altered states for self-destructive, painful ones (Ross, 1989, p. 187).”
Guess you learn new things every day huh, thanks old white guys
Guess you learn new things every day huh, thanks old white guys
Anyways, that was to scaffold this argument:
“A construction of dissociative identity as inherently disorderly and dysfunctional, in conjunction with many therapists’ world view that a unitary self is normal and best, leads to the assumption that multiplicity needs to be cured:
“A construction of dissociative identity as inherently disorderly and dysfunctional, in conjunction with many therapists’ world view that a unitary self is normal and best, leads to the assumption that multiplicity needs to be cured:
“The goal of treatment of MPD is not palliation. It is cure” (Ross, 1997, p. 204). “Integration as an overall treatment goal” (Barach, 1994, section IIIA).” And another similar kluft quote which I won’t grace your eyes with.
Rivera is used to make a counter to Kluft and the rest, bu discussing multiplicity as a neural or even positive experience [images] but eventually falls back to suggesting the unification of self.
![Rivera is used to make a counter to Kluft and the rest, bu discussing multiplicity as a neural or even positive experience [images] but eventually falls back to suggesting the unification of self.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ed5EDK4XoAkSNy_.jpg "Rivera is used to make a counter to Kluft and the rest, bu discussing multiplicity as a neural or even positive experience [images] but eventually falls back to suggesting the unification of self.")
“Rivera appears to fall back on the traditional concept of encapsulating all parts into a single identity. There has to be an “I”; she does not contemplate an identity as ‘we’.“
There’s a lot of discussion again about post-modern views of selfhood and the plurality of language, which is good background leading up to the next point: how do we determined disordered-ness if this is how the stage has been set?
This is the author’s suggestion: “Rather than focus on the issue of multiple self “disorder”, an alternative approach could explore the notion of functionality in conjunction with the individual’s experience.”
“This approach could explore whether the individual experiences their inner and outer world as safe, functional, happy, productive, and as an acceptable way of being in the world. Similarly it could explore whether the external world experiences the person as safe...
“functional, happy, as productive, and sufficiently consistent in presentation (in all guises) that others can relate to the person. In this way the “diagnosis” of disorder... would be linked w the individual’s views on multiple aspects of both internal and external functioning.”
I agree, and so does the DSM 5 (to some extent) which has since put in the distress clause for diagnosis. This paper is a lil out of date but that’s ok 
We’re moving on the to second part of argument 1, which is analyzing the “integration is not sufficient for health” implication in old white guy texts.
Side note, this may be the only Kluft quote I genuinely enjoy, but like, not how it’s intended:
“When you complete the multiple personality part of the treatment and the person has achieved integration, you are then dealing with a person with single personality disorder (Kluft)”
“When you complete the multiple personality part of the treatment and the person has achieved integration, you are then dealing with a person with single personality disorder (Kluft)”
There’s a lot of Kluft quotes about how clients can still be VERY unstable, diagnosed w PTSD, active flashbacks, and how integration can be actively distressing. It leads to the author noting:
“In no other area of the DSM does the eradication of one disorder inevitably lead to the diagnosis of another disorder. This brings into question the validity of the prescription for integration to oneness, and reflects the power of social expectations.“
Next section is basically discussing this disgusting quote by Ross, and similar sentiments shared.
“Treatment will be a collaboration but not democratic. The patient is the patient and I am the doctor. We are not friends, and I am the only one getting paid” (Ross, 1997).”
“Treatment will be a collaboration but not democratic. The patient is the patient and I am the doctor. We are not friends, and I am the only one getting paid” (Ross, 1997).”
Author dishes out the tea, saying “The therapeutic process therefore becomes one where the dominant goals of the all-knowing professional are imposed despite the client.”
Ableist and really gross Kluft and Ross quotes attached via image
Ableist and really gross Kluft and Ross quotes attached via image
“The word “argument” shapes the client as an adversary and their desire to discuss the issue of integration before committing to it as unreasonable and antagonistic. First, the therapist is constructed as entitled to refuse to discuss the issue of integration...”
“...because he is right and knows what is best for the client. Second, the text condones a therapeutic approach of subterfuge that disguises, under an apparently easy-going style of “wait-and-see”, the use of a process that will lead to an “inevitable” predetermined outcome.”
“Ionically, while a commitment to maintaining one’s identity would be considered a normal and healthy force in a singleton, [alters] are represented as having a “narcissistic investment” when they attempt to preserve their existence, rather than yielding to therapist’s demands.”
Thank you, author, for putting my frustration with kluft in a published research paper 
A lot is analyzed about power dynamics in therapy, but this stands out:
“Sodium amytal should be considered when other techniques have failed or when temporary access to an unavailable alter is required… it is a battering ram. It gets you into the system” (Ross, 1997, p. 363).”
“Sodium amytal should be considered when other techniques have failed or when temporary access to an unavailable alter is required… it is a battering ram. It gets you into the system” (Ross, 1997, p. 363).”
Tw: r/pe
The medieval war image of the battering ram has echoes of rape and thus could be seen as highly insensitive in light of evidence that a history of prior abuse is common in multiplicity (Kluft, 1990). Nowhere within these texts is there an acknowledgement of the...”
The medieval war image of the battering ram has echoes of rape and thus could be seen as highly insensitive in light of evidence that a history of prior abuse is common in multiplicity (Kluft, 1990). Nowhere within these texts is there an acknowledgement of the...”
“... the possibility that these breaking-down processes may replicate and perpetuate abuse dynamics, further harming the client. It is possibly because of the invasive forcefulness advocated in such therapy that client resistance becomes an issue.”
General discussion time for two pages of content. Opens with a good disclaimer: “This analysis does not purport to be a thorough discourse analysis or the only possible interpretation of the texts explored.”
“However this brief exploration offers a glimpse into the ambiguities, contradictions and complexities involved in the language used to describe dissociative identity. It also demonstrates the need for further qualitative research into the area of dissociative identity.”
“The possibility that the treatment is problematic is not questioned within the texts. Instead the problems resulting from treatment are individualised to the client and at best are seen as a sacrifice that the client has to pay.”
”This highlights issues of power, responsibility, control and agency which will be covered in a further paper.”·
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Oops, the thread got split two tweets up. Here’s where it continues: https://twitter.com/theringssystem/status/1287555626097238016?s=21
