Episode #041120: SYSK Selects: How Dissociative Identity Disorder Works

Dissociative Identity Disorder was known as multiple personality disorder until a case of mass hysteria brought on by the movie-mad public and unscrupulous psychiatrists led to a stigma over the term. Now psychiatry has gotten serious about the condition. Learn more in this classic episode.

AI Summary

# Stuff You Should Know: Dissociative Identity Disorder

Josh and Chuck dive deep into the misunderstood world of Dissociative Identity Disorder, exploring how this legitimate mental condition got sensationalized, exploited, and nearly destroyed by popular culture in the 1970s and 80s. From the infamous cases of "Eve" and "Sybil" to the surprising revelation about NFL legend Herschel Walker, they unpack why psychiatry had to completely rebrand the disorder to save it from the damage caused by movies, hypnosis-happy therapists, and mass hysteria. It's a fascinating look at how pop culture can actually create the very problem it's trying to explore, and how real people suffering from this condition got caught in the crossfire.

Movies Discussed

Sybil

1976

★ 7.4

"In 1973 is when Sybil the book came out... Sally Field played her in the movie. It was a big hit. — Major TV movie based on a controversial case of multiple personality disorder that triggered an outbreak of diagnosed cases." — Josh

The Three Faces of Eve

1957 1h 31m

★ 7.2

"The Three Faces of Eve was a book written in 1957 by two psychiatrists. And it was about a woman whose real name was Chris Costner Sizemore. — Major case study that popularized multiple personality disorder and led to widespread sensationalism of the condition." — Chuck

United States of Tara

2009

★ 7.1

"If you've ever seen United States of Tara, you ever seen that? No, I know of it, but I've never seen an episode. — Used as an example of how dissociative identity disorder can manifest with different behaviors, speech patterns, and accents." — Chuck

💬 Comments

No comments yet. Be the first!