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Multiple personality: perplexities about the law
1Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Medicine and Law
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Multiple personality, or dissociative identity disorder, presents legal challenges. The law assumes a unified self, requiring individuals to be responsible for all their distinct personalities.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychology
- Legal Psychology
Background:
- Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly multiple personality disorder, challenges legal frameworks.
- Legal systems are built upon the concept of a singular, unified self.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the legal implications of Dissociative Identity Disorder.
- To examine how DID impacts legal concepts like consent and criminal responsibility.
Main Methods:
- Legal concept analysis
- Case law review (implied)
- Psychological theory integration
Main Results:
- DID raises complex questions regarding legal consent and capacity.
- Determining competency to stand trial and testify is complicated by fragmented identity.
- Establishing criminal responsibility and legal defense is challenging due to the nature of DID.
Conclusions:
- The legal system's foundation in personal unity conflicts with DID.
- Individuals with DID may be held legally responsible for the actions of their distinct personalities.
- Legal adaptations may be necessary to address the complexities of DID.