Dissociation : Vol. 8, No. 4 (Dec. 1995)

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Browsing Dissociation : Vol. 8, No. 4 (Dec. 1995) by Author "Pica, Michael"

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    Dissociation : Vol. 8, No. 4, p. 236-240 : The predisposition to dissociate: The temperamental traits of flexibility/rigidity, daily rhythm, emotionality and interactional speed
    (Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Dissociation, 1995-12) Beere, Don; Pica, Michael
    This paper 1) supports Braun and Kluft's hypothesis that there is a biological substrate for dissociativity; 2) demonstrates that one biological substrate might be temperament; 3) establishes additional construct and discriminant validity for Beere's perceptual theory of dissociation, namely, that dissociation involves a perceptual process in which "background " perceptual input is lost or degraded; and 4) extends the application of Beere's theory from dissociative reactions during trauma to dissociation in general. Measures of temperament and dissociation were administered to 125 undergraduate students. Results support Beere 's theory that dissociation involves blocking out peripheral perceptual stimuli. DES correlated significantly with flexibility/ rigidity, regularity of daily habits, social emotionality, emotionality, and social tempo. High dissociators tended to be more rigid, less regular, less emotionally responsive to negatives, and interact more quickly than low dissociators.
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    Dissociation : Vol. 8, No. 4, p. 241-246 : Dissociation during positive situations
    (Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Dissociation, 1995-12) Pica, Michael; Beere, Don
    Breaking from the traditional mode of dissociation research, this study examines the experience of dissociation during positive situations. Thirty-three of ninety (36.7%) randomly selected undergraduate students reported positive dissociative experiences. In order of ranked frequency the experiences included sports, sexual encounters, prayer, contact with nature, anticipating good news, hearing good news, acting, hobbies, musical performances, and listening to music. Interestingly, low as well as high dissociators reported these types of experiences suggesting that one need not be highly dissociative in order to dissociate during a positive situation. A qualitative analysis of descriptions of positive dissociative experiences coincides precisely with Beere's perceptual theory of dissociation : dissociation occurs when perception narrows during an intense situation of personal significance and, thus, blocks out the background.