1. Thigpen & Cleckley Individual Differences The Core Studies

2. Background MPD: The presence of two or more distinct identities that each have their own way of perceiving and thinking about the environment and self Fugue : Extreme temporary type of amnesia Core personality: The real personality

3. Aim To give an account of the psychotherapeutic experience of an individual who was considered to have multiple personality disorder (MPD/DID)

4. Sample 25 year old married mother Had a 4 year old daughter Eve’s real name (Christine Sizemore) was changed to Eve White to preserve her anonymity. She was a telephone operator Initially referred to Thigpen for treatment of severe blinding headaches and blackouts after them.

5. Method Case Study Longitudinal Action Research IV: Not really one but could say “methods of treatment” DV: Eve’s response to the treatment

6. Procedure Psychotherapeutic interviews with Eve herself, hypnosis, interviews with her mother, father, and husband as-well as some other family members e.g. Aunt Psychometric: Memory tests & IQ tests Physiological: EEG examinations Projective tests: Rorschach Ink blots The study was “action research” so the researchers tried to cure her at the time of studying.

7. Results Psychometric results: EW had an IQ od 110 whereas EB had an IQ of 104 therefore EW had a higher IQ reading. EW had superior memory function than EB Projective results EB was healthier than EW and was regressive whereas EW was repressive. Physiological results: EW and Jane – 11 cycles per second EB – 12.5 cycles per second (borderline psychotic)

8. Results Eve White – Sensible, repressive, demure Originally researchers found that the headaches decreased when Eve opened up about her emotional problems Thigpen and Cleckley thought she was suffering from personal frustrations and difficulties (marriage related) Eve adores her daughter but does not live with her Eve couldn’t recollect a trip she took, so she was hypnotised and her memory was restored The hypnotism seemed to trigger the new personality

9. Results Several days later a letter from Eve was received. The first few paragraphs normally however the last in a childish scrawl Asked researchers if hearing a voice now and then makes her insane She then threw her head into her hands and squealed in pain. When she “revived” she took on an entirely new manner much different to EW and her voice seemed to change. She said “Hi Doc!” and introduced herself as Eve Black.

10. Results Eve Black – Mischievous, light hearted, playful EB had existed since childhood and had separate thoughts and feelings to EW. She was aware of everything about EW but EW cannot ever remember what EB does. EB doesn’t like EW, her daughter, or husband Initially EB could only be accessed via hypnosis but she later would come out on demand. However, EB could never be hypnotised In childhood EB would come out and get EW into trouble (running into the woods)

11. Results EW’s husband recalled when she bought an enormous amount of clothes, very expensive, and abused her for doing so. EW had not idea why she had done so and was confused by her behaviour. EB drinks heavily, hooks up with other men and commits to a secret marriage. She is perceived as a dangerous character. After 8 months of therapy, EW was no longer experiencing blackouts and headaches and EB was causing less trouble Suddenly however, they returned worse than ever and EB was experiencing headaches too.

12. Results Jane – confident, assertive, better than EB In the session after the headaches had restarted, EW was discussing a painful childhood memory (being burnt). She dropped her head back and closed her eyes. Thigpen and Cleckley knew that this was another personality. She was aware of EW and EB but had no access to their memories prior to her emergence Jane only came out through EW. She came out more frequently over time.

13. Results Thigpen and Cleckley decide to kill off EW and EB, and Jane should be the dominant personality Jane was reluctant to fully take over as a maternal figure. She did not want to meddle in with the relationship between Sarah and EW. Both Jane and EW had normal EEG readings. Jane was more interesting than EW, less destructive than EB and was seen as being stable

14. Evidence of MPD The letter received – first paragraphs normal handwriting but the last paragraph was in a childish scrawl EEG machine - higher alpha rhythms in EB than EW IQ tests – EB worse IQ

15. Strengths of the study Very holistic Rich qualitative data – in depth explanations Provides development over time Physiological data confirms the existence of MPD Both qualitative and quantitative data Family interviews – increasing reliability

16. Weaknesses No pin point as to why Eve had MPD No idea why EB was created in childhood Various ethical guidelines are broken Thigpen’s opinion protrudes too much = bias Researchers may have made her condition worse

17. Ethical guidelines Consent is given by EW but not EB or Jane Debriefing is fine because she is essentially debriefed constantly EW had the right to withdraw Confidentiality was completely ignored HOWEVER “Eve” was used More severe headaches, stress from film produced = psychological harm

18. Evaluation of the sample Genuine patient with a genuine disorder so we get very rich detail on a disorder that is very rare – good for practical applications Only one participant so allows deep detail Non generalizable as we do not know about MPD in others

19. Evaluation of the method Holistic – lots of rich background information to add to reliability and depth Quantitative and qualitative data collected Shows development over time However does not explain why the MPD started Too much data? Could have caused her more harm than good