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Split Personality Switch Trigger

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RedneckRocker First Loyalty: Yourself from None Of Your Business Since: Jan, 2001
First Loyalty: Yourself
#1: Dec 22nd 2011 at 5:26:54 PM

I'm developing a psychic character for a Mutants And Masterminds session who suffers from Disassociative Identity Disorder (their powers are similar, but with sleight variations). Each identity believes the other one to be their twin sibling (though this wouldn't be revealed until later in the story; inspired by Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops). Basically, they're Simon Tam and Jayne Cobb.

The thing is, I can't decide on what should trigger the character's identity shift. The Hulk-style "don't make me mad" one's a bit cliche.

Embroiled in slave rebellion, I escaped crucifixion simply by declaring 'I am Vito', everyone else apparently being called 'Spartacus'.
NoirGrimoir Rabid Fujoshi from San Diego, CA Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
Rabid Fujoshi
#2: Dec 22nd 2011 at 6:12:23 PM

Well what makes the most sense psychologically is that each 'personality' has things they deal with better, and it's not that there's a specific trigger, per se. The theory behind DID is that the personality splits itself to deal with problems that the conscious personality can't take. Maybe one personality is nicer, more sociable and easily hurt, better able to perform everyday tasks, while another has a tougher skin and able to power through tough situations to protect themselves, but has trouble in social situations. So depending on the situation, when one personality starts to get upset or uncomfortable, that's the cue for the other one to 'take over'.

edited 22nd Dec '11 6:13:28 PM by NoirGrimoir

SPATULA, Supporters of Page Altering To Urgently Lead to Amelioration (supports not going through TRS for tweaks and minor improvements.)
Night The future of warfare in UC. from Jaburo Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
The future of warfare in UC.
#3: Dec 22nd 2011 at 7:02:30 PM

From what I understand with brief contact with the literature, one personality is normal, and the others are coping mechanisms for various levels and types of stress. The alternate personalities basically exist to defend the main one. (Though I should note that often they're not necessarily aware of each other.)

As such, The Incredible Hulk is cliche, but not entirely wrong.

Nous restons ici.
YuriStrike 熊熊熊熊! from I'm telling nobody! Since: Nov, 2011
熊熊熊熊!
#4: Dec 22nd 2011 at 7:08:40 PM

Touko in Kara No Kyokai used her glasses to create split personalities on intention.

╮(╯_╰)╭
RedneckRocker First Loyalty: Yourself from None Of Your Business Since: Jan, 2001
First Loyalty: Yourself
#5: Dec 23rd 2011 at 2:09:39 PM

The thing is, it's not until about halfway through the story that the character is revealed to have this disorder. Near the beginning, "Harrison" mentions that his twin "Scott" (not their real names) is not somebody to smeg with (as I mentioned, Harrison's Simon Tam; Scott's Jayne Cobb). Encounters occur with both of the "brothers". Eventually, the other characters learn that about his disorder.

Embroiled in slave rebellion, I escaped crucifixion simply by declaring 'I am Vito', everyone else apparently being called 'Spartacus'.
chihuahua0 Since: Jul, 2010
#6: Dec 23rd 2011 at 2:41:13 PM

PM Motree. She researched this topic recently.

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