Dissociation : Vol. 8, No. 3 (Sept. 1995)

Permanent URI for this collection

https://hdl.handle.net/1794/1248

Browse

Browsing Dissociation : Vol. 8, No. 3 (Sept. 1995) by Author "Beere, Don"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Dissociation : Vol. 8, No. 3, p. 165-174 : Loss of "background": a perceptual theory of dissociation
    (Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Dissociation, 1995-09) Beere, Don
    The present theory explains how specific dissociative reactions arise for the first time during a traumatic experience. During dissociation, according to this theory, the perceptual background associated with perception is lost or altered, creating "dysfunctional perceptual organization" (Fine, 1988). Dissociative symptomatology maps one to one with the background components of perceptual experience. The hypothesized psychological mechanism leading to the loss of or change in perception and, thus, to a change in background during trauma, is perception focused on the threat. Focused perception leading to changes in background can occur spontaneously or intentionally. Specific dissociative reactions hypothetically link to specific traumatic precipitants.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Dissociation : Vol. 8, No. 3, p. 175-202 : Dissociative reactions and characteristics of the trauma: preliminary tests of a perceptual theory of dissociation
    (Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Dissociation, 1995-09) Beere, Don
    Ten hypotheses were derived from Beere's (in press) perception based theory of dissociation. Seven hypotheses received significant support. Although two hypotheses obtained inconsistent support, the results are explainable by the theory. The tenth hypothesis received no support. Two post hoc hypotheses pertinent to the tenth hypothesis and based on the theory received strong support, however, indicating that the last hypothesis was a misapplication of the theory. The results indicate, as predicted by the theory, that during trauma perception of the background (defined as "I," mind, body, world, and time) is lost or altered and becomes the dissociative reaction. In addition, the results indicate that specific dissociative reactions are unique to specific traumatic conditions. In contrast to current opinion, some dissociative reactions during trauma do not seem defensive but result from perceptual focus on the traumatic threat.