Return to understanding dissociative symptoms as manifestations of a division of the personality: A rejoinder

• Published in: European journal of trauma & dissociation = Revue europâeenne du trauma et de la dissociation 2022-11, Vol.6 (4), p.100288, Article 100288
• Main Author: van der Hart, Onno
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Conceptual confusion; Dissociation; Multidimensional models of dissociation; Pierre Janet; Sándor Ferenczi; Theory of structural dissociation of the personality
• ISSN: 2468-7499; 2468-7499
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejtd.2022.100288

In his commentary on my article, Trauma-related dissociation of the personality: An analysis of two conflicting models (Schimmenti, 2022); Van der Hart, 2021) challenged my position that dissociative subsystems of the personality include their own sense of self and first-person perspective for identifying trauma-related dissociative symptoms—which is a key-understanding in original views on dissociation and in the theory of structural dissociation of the personality. Relative to its severity, being traumatized involves an array of biopsychosocial symptoms and features. Each of these deserves scientific and clinical interest, and it is a sign of progress that they are receiving more attention. However, there is a tendency in the field to gather ever more of these phenomena under the umbrella of ‘dissociation’. Lacking conceptual clarity and specificity, this development is fraught to scientific and clinical imprecision. Conceptual clarity as well clinical sensitivity may benefit from taking Pierre Janet's pioneering studies as points of departure. (152 words)