The term dissociation can be used in a psychological way or in a sociological way. In psychology, dissociation refers to the tendency for people in crisis to dissociate their experiences from aspects of their personality or identity. This can lead to multiple personality. For sociologists, dissociation refers more to social isolation from others for a variety of reasons. Dissociation can be described as a condition characterized by a disconnection between the thoughts, sensory experience, or sense of self of an individual. An individual experiencing dissociation may feel as though things around them are very unreal. Such people may also lose their sense of time and a connection with identity and place. It is proposed that the main sources of dissociation are trauma-related detachment of the sociological and psychological selves and the subsequent amplification of the sociological self.
Functional dissociation of the self: a socio-cognitive approach to trauma and dissociation. Sar Vedat; Ozturk Erdin, Journal of trauma & dissociation : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation.
It is hoped that this conceptualization will contribute to efforts both toward understanding the everyday dissociation of the average contemporary individual and toward developing novel psychotherapeutic approaches which might shorten the length of treatment of dissociative disorders. A novel socio-cognitive theory of dissociation and dissociative disorders is proposed.
The model, which is both theoretical and clinical, is based on "functional dissociation of the self." A new concept is introduced in this paper: the sociological self.
Media dissociation, Internet use, and antiwar political participation: A case study of political dissent and action against the war in Iraq. Abstract: Schmierbach, Michael, Hyunseo Hwang, Hye-Jin Paek, de Zuniga, Homero Gil, Shah, Dhavan. A Web-based survey of political dissenters conducted during the start of the US-led invasion of Iraq provides the case study data, which is used to test relationships between media dissociation, Internet use and antiwar activism. Study results revealed that the more the individuals surveyed felt their views differed from mainstream media portrayals so the more motivated they were to use the Internet as an information source and discussion channel. Mass Communication and Mass Society.
Understanding Adoptees Who Kill: Dissociation,
Patricide, and the Psychodynamics of Adoption,
David Kirschner.
Adoption is often the key to the psychopathology of adopted killers, yet its importance is
rarely noted. Three cases of patricide by adoptees are examined in light of a unique
pattern of psychopathology, the Adopted Child Syndrome. In this syndrome, an aspect of the
self, experienced as "bad" and usually identified with the fantasized biological
parents, is dissociated. Under conditions of loss or rejection, this dissociated part of
the self may erupt in murderous violence against the adoptive parents and others. In
extreme cases, the syndrome is akin to multiple personality disorder, and such a diagnosis
could be warranted.
Relationship of Dissociation to Temperament and Character in Men and Women
- Hans-Joergen Grabe, M.D., Carsten Spitzer, M.D., and Harald Juergen
Freyberger, M.D.
OBJECTIVE: This study approaches the question of nature and nurture of dissociative
phenomena. Within Cloninger’s concept of personality, character traits are thought to
develop in response to environmental stimuli and conditions during childhood and
adolescence, whereas temperament traits are considered to be genetically predisposed. The
hypothesis is tested that dissociative symptoms are associated with distinct character
traits but not with temperament dimensions.
Two systems for empathy: a double dissociation between emotional and cognitive
empathy in inferior frontal gyrus versus ventromedial prefrontal lesions - Simone
G. Shamay-Tsoory, Judith Aharon-Peretz and Daniella Perry
The findings reveal a remarkable behavioural and anatomic double dissociation between
deficits in cognitive empathy (VM) and emotional empathy (IFG). Furthermore, precise
anatomical mapping of lesions revealed Brodmann area 44 to be critical for emotional
empathy while areas 11 and 10 were found necessary for cognitive empathy. These findings
are consistent with these cortices being different in terms of synaptic hierarchy and
phylogenetic age. The pattern of empathy deficits among patients with VM and IFG lesions
represents a first direct evidence of a double dissociation between emotional and
cognitive empathy using the lesion method.