Cultural scripts, memories of childhood abuse, and multiple identities: a study of role-played enactments.

Abstract

This study compared the reports of satanic, sexual, and physical abuse of persons instructed to role-play either dissociative identity disorder (DID) (n = 33), major depression (n = 33), or a college student who experienced minor adjustment problems ("normal") (n = 33) across a number of trials that included role-played hypnosis. As hypothesized, more of the participants who were asked to role-play DID reported at least one instance of satanic ritual abuse and sexual abuse compared with those who role-played depression or a college student with minor adjustment problems. DID role-players reported more incidents of sexual abuse and more severe physical and sexual abuse than did the major depression role-players. Further, the DID role-players differed from the normal role-players on all the measures of frequency and severity of physical and sexual abuse. Participants in all groups reported more frequent and severe incidents of physical abuse after role-played hypnosis than they did prior to it.

• Authors: Jane Stafford, Steven Jay Lynn
• Journal: The International journal of clinical and experimental hypnosis (Int J Clin Exp Hypn) Vol. 50 Issue 1 Pg. 67-85 (Jan 2002) ISSN: 0020-7144 [Print] England
• PMID: 11778708 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adjustment Disorders (psychology)
• Adult
• Child
• Child Abuse (psychology)
• Child Abuse, Sexual (psychology)
• Depressive Disorder, Major (psychology)
• Dissociative Disorders (psychology)
• Female
• Humans
• Hypnosis
• Male
• Mental Recall
• Motivation
• Role Playing
• Stereotyping
• Suggestion