Conclusion
In this article, I
discussed the “problem of otherness” in DID, by examining the extent to which
we could validate and recognize each PP’s perception of otherness in other PPs.
I indicated that the concept of multiplication
of the consciousness better fits the subjective experiences of patients with
DID compared to division of the
consciousness, the latter being, however, seemingly a dominant way of
conceptualizing dissociative phenomena even in this modern era. For the model
that I proposed here, i.e., “multi-track model”, a neural correlate is
conceived, by applying Edelman’s Concept of dynamic Core. Although hypothesizing
neurological basis of dissociative phenomena can seem too far-reaching, it was
already hinted at by Janet’s audacious notion the “second law” and Putnam’s
discrete behavioral model. I consider that this attempt should be meaningful in
order to enrich our clinical experiences and understanding informed by
biological underpinning of the mechanism of dissociation. The effort made in
this article hopefully contributes to better understanding of the subjective
sense of patients with DID, which is often misunderstood as not genuine but
rather defensive and pathological.
