ABSTRACT
In this chapter the author compares her views of Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) and Spirit Possession, and then talks about how she see them overlap in the patient, Yolanda, presented by Dr. Itkzowitz. Both MPD the diagnosis and Spirit Possession as a widespread cultural tradition, challenge the Western definition of the self as highly bounded, individual, and autonomous. The author shows the connections between Yolanda's internal states or parts, and the ways in which spiritism can be adapted to personify these experiences. Like other worshippers, the abused child hopes to be cleansed and healed, but unless she feels supported by a family and culture of believers, she may be only further traumatized, as Yolanda was. Yolanda's self states were demonized by her family, who think she is possessed of evil spirits, and pathologize her further on that basis, even though they were the ones who introduced her to Santeria.
