Parallel-Distinct Structures of Internal World and External Reality: Disavowing and Re-Claiming the Self-Identity in the Aftermath of Trauma-Generated Dissociation

Abstract

The nature of consciousness and the autonomy of the individual's mind have been a focus of interest throughout the past century and inspired many theories and models. Revival of studies on psychological trauma and dissociation, which remained outside mainstream psychiatry, psychology, and psychoanalysis for the most part of the past century, has provided a new opportunity to revisit this intellectual and scientific endeavor. This paper attempts to integrate a series of empirical and theoretical studies on psychological consequences of developmental traumatization, which may yield further insight into factors which threaten the integrity of human consciousness. The paper proposes that an individual's experience of distorted reality and betrayal precipitates a cyclical dynamic between the individual and the external world by disrupting the developmental function of mutuality which is essential for maintenance of the integrity of the internal world while this inner world is in turn regulated vis-à-vis external reality. Dissociation -the common factor in all types of post-traumatic syndromes- is facilitated by violation of boundaries by relational omission and intrusion as represented by distinct effects and consequences of childhood neglect and abuse. Recent research conducted on clinical and non-clinical populations shows both bimodal (undermodulation and overmodulation) and bipolar (intrusion and avoidance) neurobiological and phenomenological characteristics of post-traumatic response. These seem to reflect “parallel-distinct structures” that control separate networks covering sensori-motor and cognitive-emotional systems. This understanding provides a conceptual framework to assist explanation of diverse post-traumatic mental trajectories which culminate in a common final pathway comprised of partly overlapping clinical syndromes such as complex PTSD, dissociative depression, dissociative identity disorder (DID), or “borderline” phenomena. Of crucial theoretical and clinical importance is that these maladaptive post-traumatic psychological formations are regarded as processes in their own right rather than as a personality disorder innate to the individual. Such mental division may perform in that internal detachment can serve to preserve the genuine aspects of the subject until such time as they can be reclaimed via psychotherapy. The paper attempts to integrate these ideas with reference to the previously proposed theory of the “Functional Dissociation of Self” (Şar and Öztürk, 2007).

Butterfly and Carnivorous Plant: In-between Imaging of Borderline Functioning

“…In a so perspective the butterfly is "paralyzed" in-between threatening object and empty and no-colorful background, that could represent one side the paralyzing Hilflosigkeit and its related fusion wish, but also a new possibility in which someone other, the therapist, "feel with" her-own destroying feelings, she needs to see and inclose to give up [12].…”

“…"…many times, it is that trauma is claimed by child unconscious, so that, calling for Freud, child, having a possible pathology yet, could charm adult through its Hilflosigkeit…" [12].…”

Culture, trauma and dissociation: A broadening perspective for our field

“…A pioneer in the field of trauma and dissociation, Vedat Sar, made important contributions to understanding societal influences on individual dissociation (Sar, 2017a(Sar, , 2017bŞar, 2016;Sar & Ozturk, 2007. Sar developed a theory of functional dissociation of the self, according to which a person's 'sociological self' gets differentiated from their 'psychological self' in the context of an 'apparently normal family'.…”

Revisiting the etiological aspects of dissociative identity disorder: a biopsychosocial perspective

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