Identity and Introject in dissociative disorders

Abstract

The structural analysis of social behavior (SASB) shows promise for systematically examining identity issues in clinical populations. In this study, identity is assessed with the SASB in a sample of women with dissociative disorder (n = 25) and a nonpatient clinical contrast group (n = 25). The SASB Introject--a multivariate measure of identity--effectively differentiated the 2 samples. Despite greater self-directed hostility than the clinical contrast group, dissociative disorder patients showed lower levels of intrapsychic conflict. Implications for further research on identity and psychopathology are discussed.