Harvey is diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder.His mother severely abused him from the time he was 6 years old.The first of his personalities developed around seven.According to a psychoanalyst, the development of separate personalities served the purpose of ____.
A)providing substitute significant others to replace an unacceptable parent
B)taking the pain of the abuse so that his core personality would survive
C)helping Harvey to remember his mother's viciousness when he grew older
D)getting Harvey additional attention from family members

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to psychoanalytic theory, dissociative identity disorder (DID) can serve as a defense mechanism for the individual to protect their core personality from overwhelming emotional or physical pain. In Harvey's case, the development of separate personalities may have helped him cope with the severe abuse from his mother by allowing him to dissociate from the pain and trauma. Therefore, the purpose of the separate personalities would be to take the pain of the abuse so that his core personality would survive. Choice A is incorrect because the development of alternate personalities is not meant to provide a substitute for a significant other. Choices C and D are both incorrect because there is no indication in the scenario that Harvey's alternate personalities served to help him remember his mother's behavior or to seek more attention from his family.

Harvey Is Diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder