Dissociative Identity Disorder Criteria

Within the Movie Sybil

1. How is the essential feature of a dissociative disorder portrayed in the movie?

2. How are the integrative functions of consciousness, memory, identity, or perception of the environment
disrupted in Sybil?

3. Describe Sybil in terms of the Diagnostic criteria for 300.14 Dissociative Identity Disorder.

4. In the description of course for DID it is stated that the average time period form first symptom
presentation to diagnosis is 6-7 years. Do you feel this is accurate for Sybil? Why or why not?

5. Sybil had many alters (other identities). List all of them, together with the year in which each appeared
to have dissociated from the central personality and a brief description of the personality of each of the
alters. The DSM states females have more identities than do males, averaging 15 or more, whereas
males average approximately 8 identities. What are your thoughts, after seeing the movie Sybil, about
why this may be?

6. The DSM supports individuals with DID as “highly hypnotizable and vulnerable to suggestive
influences.” How does this apply to Sybil as portrayed in the movie?

7. What is your reaction to the behavior of Sybil’s father in the film?

8. What are your feelings/thoughts about Sybil’s mother?

9. In Sybil arguments were made that Shirley Mason – the real “Sybil” – began acting as though she had
multiple personalities because her psychiatrist pressured her to behave this way. What do you think/feel
about the manner in which Sybil’s psychiatrist dealt with the child Sybil’s hometown doctor? What
could/should he have done?
What ethical/legal repercussions do you think he might encounter in today’s society? What drives your
thoughts on this matter?

10. People argue about whether MPD/DID is real. What is your opinion? Did it change after watching
Sybil?