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[freakshownia.livejournal.com]

Today in my abnormal psych class we went over dissociative disorders with a focus on DID. My professor used to work as a clinical psychologist for 20-some years, and to support the idea that multiples are extremely rare he mentioned that he had never met one in his entire career.

So I'm wondering... should we prove him wrong? It was so tempting to just jump up in class and be like, "Not true! You know ONE multiple!" but of course I didn't. I was thinking of going about it in a more discreet way, perhaps asking him if he'd like to meet a multiple. Hmm.

Any suggestions?


Also in class we were going to watch the video "Mind of a Murderer" about a serial killer who tried to get off on insanity by saying he was a multiple. The tape didn't work so we didn't watch it, but it annoyed me that of all views of MPD/DID to see in a video it'd be THAT one. Of course this guy was proved to have been making it all up to get out of jail so he wasn't actually a multiple, but still. Discussing multiplicity in the context of murder doesn't lead to positive opinions =/ (Although my professor clearly understood that one has nothing to do with the other and the tape was to show how it could be faked, who knows what the other students picked up from that.)

Comments

[ex-khailitha846.livejournal.com]

We've "outed" ourselves several times during our educational career. First to a Psych 101 professor, who was fascinated and happy to meet us and has remained a very good friend... to the point of letting us use his cabin every summer.

Also, during art school, we brought it up to two of the professors because it made sense as the art was a constant dialogue about being multiple. They seemed a little confused by it, but in the end, it was a valuable experience for all of us.

Now, working on a Masters of Oriental Medicine, I realize that two of my professors know, and one of them is the clinical director of the school. Both experiences have been extremely positive.

Maybe we live in a wierd, rosy bubble, surrounded by open minded people, but the experience here has been that if one of us feels moved to "out" ourselves, and there is a sense of trust and relevance within that impulse, it is the right thing to do.

But we don't do it with people who don't generate a sense of safety and acceptance, and there are definite situations where we keep those cards right up close.

I guess my advice would be to look at the impulse to "out" yourself to this guy, and try to determine where it originates. If you are trying to prove a point, if your professor is closed minded and biased, if either one of you has an ax to grind, I'd say it probably won't go well.

But, if you are secure in yourselves and you think there may be a benefit, for you or for him, then it might be worth it. It could be a learning experience for both of you.

Also, I'm realizing that the few times we have "outted" to someone in the psych community, they've been thrilled and interested, they've asked many questions, they've become friends. I know this isn't true of everyone in that profession, (Oh GOD how well I know) but alot of people study psychology because they are truly curious and fascinated with the diverse expression of human consciousness, and your existence could be a delight and wonder to them.

Or not. *grins and shrugs*

-Kat of Khailitha