Writers love giving their characters multiple personalities, and I can’t blame them. More formally known as dissociative identity disorder (DID), the concept of multiple personalities offers a rich and complex terrain for exploring themes related to identity, the human mind, and the nature of the self. When done correctly, it can add narrative tension to a story, intensify the psychological complexity of a character, and allow the author to explore themes of personal identity, psychological trauma, and maladaptive coping mechanisms. However, authors can also use the disorder poorly, treating it as merely a plot twist or mechanism to try and explain gaping plot holes. Don’t be that author.
What is DID?
DID is characterized by the presence of two (or more) distinct and separate identities existing within the same person, called “alters.” Each alter has an individual personality and unique memories. Alters can be of different ages and genders, and will have a unique perspective, skill set, and worldview. Different alters will have different handwriting and may even require different glasses prescriptions! A person with DID can have up to 100 alters, or as few as two. It is theorized that different alters have unique traits that help them to survive and/or cope in different circumstances.
A person with DID will not be able to choose or summon their alters at will, though there are sometimes “positive triggers” that are more likely to bring out one alter over another. Because alters do not share memories, blackouts are another common symptom of DID. Memory problems—such as not remembering a person they met while another alter was out—are another challenge faced by characters with DID. Confusion, feeling disconnected from their body and/or reality, hearing voices of other alters, and not being able to recognize themselves in the mirror are also common symptoms. A character with DID will often—but not always—feel as if they are more than one person.
Is DID the same thing as schizophrenia?
No. Characters with split personalities or DID are often described as having schizophrenia, but the two conditions are completely distinct. Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder characterized by disruptions in perception, cognition, and overall thought processes. A character with schizophrenia may experience delusions—fixed, false beliefs—and hallucinations, such as hearing voices. These symptoms may significantly impact their ability to understand what is real and what is not. However, their single, core identity remains intact.
How common is DID?
Good question. Unfortunately, the answer is quite complicated. Some practitioners believe that DID does not exist at all. They believe that it is a confabulation by highly suggestible patients suffering from other psychiatric disorders, particularly borderline personality disorder, to explain their repressed traumatic memories. Others believe that the condition is actually underdiagnosed. So where does that leave writers?
My advice is to utilize DID in your stories with great caution. At the very least, DID is a controversial diagnosis that is deeply misunderstood. If your story doesn’t absolutely require your character to have DID, I strongly suggest you do not include it. However, if you’re going to write a character with DID, make sure you do your research.