Fight Club and Dissociative Identity Dis PDF

FIGHT CLUB AND DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER: CAUSES,
SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENTS

Selin Kolsuz
Dissociative identity disorder or multiple personality disorder, acronymically DID, is

a severe disorder in which two or more distinct identities take control of an individual
alternately. DID also restricts the ability to function properly in daily life. Psychological
disorders such as DID are portrayed both in movies and in novels a lot. DID is one of the
disorders mentioned in the novel “Fight Club”, besides, borderline personality disorder,
insomnia, and substance addiction. In this essay, known causes, symptoms, and treatments of
DID will be discussed. Then, the quotes that lead readers to think of DID will be explained.
The first experiment about DID was conducted in 1883. The subject had three
different personalities and none of the personalities was accepting that she was the same
person as the first. After Leonie, the subject of the experiment, psychologists started to work
on dissociative personality disorder more deeply. Nonetheless, they couldn’t find the leading
cause of this disorder. Although main causes of DID are still unknown, there are some
assumptions about the causes of this disorder. These causes include neglect, the death of a
parent and severe trauma during early childhood such as usually extreme, repetitive physical,
sexual, or emotional abuse. According to the findings of a research done by Suzette Boon and
Nel Draijer, there may be a possible link between severe early child abuse, dissociative
pathology, and eating problems. Some of the theories state that DID may be caused by altered
sleep and wrong psychotherapeutic therapy techniques. Some believe that this disorder is
caused by malfunction of chemicals in the brain that help control moods. Thus, it is also said
that DID may be caused by genetic factors and it may be inherited. However, as mentioned
before, it is still unknown if there are specific causes.
Although there are lots reasons that trigger this disorder, DID is a psychological
disease which is difficult to diagnose. Its symptoms are similar to almost all the mental
disorders. These symptoms include high levels of suicidal ideation, self-destructive behavior,
dependence, passivity, anxiety, and guilt. This psychological disorder also produces a lack of
memories, feelings, and most importantly sense of identity. The symptoms can be too general
to diagnose, but different characteristics of alter personalities differ a lot. For instance, the
primary identity is usually passive, dependent, guilty and depressed, whereas the other
identity tends to be more active, hostile and aggressive. In most of the time, these identities
are unaware of each other and this ends up in a chaotic life.
1
There is a lack of consensus both in diagnosis and in treatments. Besides this, there
are some treatment methods that are being applied for years. These methods include mix of
psychotherapy techniques; eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) that uses
eye movements to assist trauma victims; dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) that is believed
to treat mood disorders that cause self-harm, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse;
hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Unfortunately, it is uncertain that the patient
will come around completely. However, these treatments can reduce the number of alter
personalities who are associated with illegal and violent activities. The treatments usually
take years to accomplish, but the duration of the treatment depends on the patient’s goals.
Both in movies and novels, dissociative identity disorder is quite popular. Many
novels such as The Three Faces of Eve, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Fight Club depict DID.
For instance in Fight Club, there are many symbols and quotes that lead us to this serious
psychological disorder. In the novel, Narrator meets Tyler Durden and learns he works as a
projectionist. His job symbolizes the relationship between Tyler and Narrator. Tyler reflects
Narrator’s repressed passion and violence in a way that Narrator cannot. Tyler Durden is
portrayed as aggressive and violent whereas Narrator is described as a single young man who
works in a job he hates and who has lack of self confidence. The scenes in which Tyler and
Narrator fight represents self harm and self punishment. In the following chapters, Narrator
says that he admires Tyler and wants to be like him. This quote shows that Tyler has
Narrator’s repressed emotions. Besides this, he constantly repeats that he knows because
Tyler knows this. This quote foreshadows that Tyler and Narrator are the same person. At the
beginning of the novel, Narrator suffers from insomnia and he sees a physician. He says that
he woke up in strange places and he had no idea how he got there. This is also related to the
symptoms of DID such as memory loss and insomnia.
What makes this serious psychological disorder so popular is probably its mystery.
Real causes of DID are still unknown. However, there are some studies that relate DID to
sexual and emotional abuse during childhood. The symptoms of DID can vary from insomnia
to lack of self confidence, from self-harm to suicidal thoughts. Various treatment methods are
applied all over the world. Because the causes of DID are still unknown, none of these
treatment methods are specified. Besides having unknown causes, symptoms and treatments,
DID is a rare disease whose prevalence is between 0.1% and 2.0%. Because of its mysterious
nature and rare prevalence, DID is depicted more than any other diseases. Fight Club is one
of these artworks which portrays DID. In the novel, there are lots of quotes and symbols that
suggest that Tyler Durden represents the alter personality of Narrator.
2
References
Byrne, P. “The Butler(s) DID It - Dissociative Identity Disorder in Cinema.” Medical
Humanities, vol. 27, no. 1, Jan. 2001, pp. 26–29., doi:10.1136/mh.27.1.26.
Gold, Steven N. “Fight Club: A Depiction of Contemporary Society as
Dissociogenic.” Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, vol. 5, no. 2, 2004, pp. 13–34.,
doi:10.1300/j229v05n02_02.
Lynn, SJ; Berg J; Lilienfeld SO; Merckelbach H; Giesbrecht T; Accardi M; Cleere C
(2012). "14 - Dissociative disorders". In Hersen M; Beidel DC.A dult Psychopathology and
Diagnosis
“Multiple Personality Disorder in The Netherlands: a Clinical Investigation of 71
Patients.” American Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 150, no. 3, 1993, pp. 489–494.,
doi:10.1176/ajp.150.3.489.
Ta, Lynn M. “Hurt So Good: Fight Club, Masculine Violence, and the Crisis of
Capitalism.” The Journal of American Culture, vol. 29, no. 3, 2006, pp. 265–277.

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What are some of the potential causes of Dissociative Identity Disorder?

What are some common symptoms of Dissociative Identity Disorder?

FIGHT CLUB AND DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER: CAUSES,

SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENTS

Dissociative identity disorder or multiple personality disorder, acronymically DID, is

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