Cultural scripts, memories of childhood abuse, and multiple identities: a study of role-played enactments.
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.
Stafford
Jane
J
Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, NY 13905, USA.
Lynn
Steven Jay
SJ
D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D009042:Motivation; D012381:Role Playing; D013240:Stereotyping; D013404:Suggestion