Sybil

Submitted by: Domdom, Roneil Gabriel A-208A

Submitted to: Prof. Jill B. PlatonDate: January 28, 2014

About the AuthorFlora Rheta Schreiber (April 24, 1918 November 3, 1988), an American journalist,, author of the best-selling study of grande hysterie the world came to know as "Sybil," died of a heart attack Wednesday at a hospital in New York City.Miss Schreiber, 70, also drew the word portrait of a Philadelphia murderer, "Shoemaker." The profits from that book once were ordered to go to a victim.

A professor of English at John Jay College of Criminal Justice at the City University of New York and a close friend of psychoanalyst Cornelia B. Wilbur, who cured "Sybil" of her 16 clinically distinct and separate personality disorders after 11 years of treatment, Miss Schreiber rose to prominence from her 1973 dispassionate study.The host for these separate personalities, "Sybil," (a pseudonym for the Columbia University student who turned over her consciousness to each personality) was a shy and withdrawn woman unlike the alternately raging, sophisticated and even male characters who lurked within her.As described by Miss Schreiber, Dr. Wilbur determined that her patient had developed the separate identities when she was a child to help her deal with an abusive mother. She would bring forth a separate character to deal with each of the traumas her mother provoked, thus relegating the problems.Once "Sybil," described by psychiatrists as "a brilliant hysteric," discovered why it had been necessary for her to become a male handyman (Mike or Sid) or an accomplished pianist (Vanessa) or a proficient cook (Mary), she was able to integrate the parts of each back into herself, becoming whole again."Sybil," sometimes confused with the book and film "The Three Faces of Eve" about a housewife with a similar disorder, was made into a two-part NBC-TV movie in 1976.Miss Schreiber, in a 1975 interview with The Times, said she was pleased "Sybil" had been so successful with readers.But more important, she said, was the interest it generated in the subconscious."As a society we seldom take that subtle inner look. Perhaps we should dare to face our inner selves.""Shoemaker," about Joseph Kallinger, a shoemaker who killed three people in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, was published in 1983.It was intended to show "it's even more important to prevent the development of psychosis that leads to crime than to get tough with criminals after the event," Miss Schreiber said while researching the book.Sued by Victim's FamilyBut Miss Schreiber was sued by the family of one of Kallinger's victims under a so-called Son of Sam law in New Jersey that required money owed to a criminal or his representatives as a result of his crimes go to the victims.A judge ruled that the family was entitled not only to the 12.5% promised to Kallinger for his cooperation but also money earned by Schreiber and her publisher.An appellate panel reversed the decision after publishers argued that it violated First Amendment freedoms.Table of ContentsVolume I The Family Tree: the Hierarchy of the sixteen selves cast of characters and dates of BirthPart I: Being1. The Incomprehensible Clock2. Wartime Within 3. The Couch and the Serpent 4. The other Girl5. Peggy Lou Baldwin6. Victoria Antoinette Scharleau7. WhyVolume II Part I: Being 7. Why (continued)Part II: Becoming 8. Willow Corners9. Yesterday Was Never10. Thieves of Time11. The Search for the Centre12. Silent Witness13. The Terror of Laughter14. Hattie15. Battered Child16. Hatties Fury Has a Beginning Volume III Part II: Becoming 16. Hatties Fury Has a Beginning (continued) 17. WillardPart III: Unbecoming18. Confrontation and Verification19. The Boys20. The Voice of Orthodox21. The Wine of Wrath22. The Clock Comprehensible23. The Retreating White Coat 24. SuicidePart IV: Re-entry25. Beginning to RememberVolume IV Part IV: Re-entry25. Beginning to Remember (continued)26. Independent Futures27. Prisoners in Their Body28. Journey to one29. They are Me, Too30. Hate Heals31. Ramon32. OneIntroduction

The book Sybil, is about a girl was diagnosed with Multiple personality disorder but her case is quite complex compared to the recent recorded cases about this at the time this book was written, for this time personalities who possessed the body of this girl is not only 3 or 5 this time there are 16 personalities and it is not only surprising by the number of personalities that possessed the body but some of them are males that obviously the opposite gender the host body. Sybils case is quiet fascinating even today for this is a rare case that people today has to know about to avoid future cases of multiple personality disorder. Now how does this kind of disorder occur based on this book before one of these personality took a life of its own Sybil the walking self-experienced a lot of sexual, intellectual, emotional, and physical trauma and this is actually a perfect component to trigger a personality disorder, but the main reason for this is the person where the abuse originated the schizophrenic mother that is not fit to raise a child but did and they let her, even if they knew that there is something wrong with her and that was the main reason why Sybil is suffering from multiple personality disorder.This book is intended of course to everyone so that we could be aware of things like traumatic abuses that may result to a psychological disorder because in my opinion all of us are possible victims especially for kids in early childhood, this book implies that childhood is the most crucial stage of every persons life and thus should be very careful for this is the stage where the personality of a human is being formed without proper training the child could be compulsive or expulsive so it is the parents job to guild the growing child to the right path.

The Content1. The Incomprehensible Clock Sybil was in her class she broke a glass and then she remembered an old memory when she was a kid saying You broke it! afterwards she ran out of her chemistry class. In she waited the elevator of the university but it took so long then she wasnt inside the campus anymore she was in Philadelphia and its winter theres snow all-around she found a telephone to call Dr Wilbur but it was dead afterward she found a key to a hotel which she doesnt know about but had been there for quit sometime soon she realized that 5 days has passed after the time in the elevator. Memories are coming back. ReflectionThere are times that were not aware of the things we encountered and if confronted about it wed be in denial we want to think that there is nothing wrong with us. We really dont know consciously but its present in the unconscious state of mind.2. Wartime WithinAfter that Sybil realized she needed to go back to her class and her other classes and also sessions from Dr. Wilbur. She had been majoring in arts at the Midwestern College. The dean sends her home in the previous make an appointment with a psychiatrist. They went to Dr. Hall. Sybil and Dr. Hall talk about whats bothering her. Afterwards Sybil admitted that she really needs to see a Psychiatrist that is why Dr. Hall set her an appointment with Dr. Wilbur and exactly the day of her appointment they started the analysis.ReflectionThe truth will always set us free. Unfortunately, Sybils case is different instead of taking good care of her. Her mother ruins her childs future. But we are the driver of our life. In the end of the day we are the one who will make the decisions and big change of our lives.3. The Couch and the SerpentSybil made her second visit to Dr. Wilbur Frustrated at being unable to accompany her daughter to the doctor's office, Hattie Dorsett had taken her as far as the elevators of the building in which the office was located. Willard Dorsett had reluctantly agreed to have Sybil enter treatment because ever since Sybil had been sent home from college, Willard had known that something had to be done. the Dr. suggested that Sybil would go the Chicago for her social life but they did not trust the doctor.Reflection A good doctor will not recommend his/her patient a stuff that can harm them. Dr. Wilbur is a good doctor she only wants whats best for her patients. Learn to trust sometimes especially if this person is worthy in his/her words like Dr. Wilbur

4. The other GirlSybil went to Dr. Wilburs Sybil was different; the voice was also quite different, childlike, not like Sybil's voice. Yet that little girl voice had uttered a woman's words in its denunciation of men: "Men are all alike. You just can't trust 'em." And the word jist. Sybil, perfectionist schoolteacher, strict grammarian, would never use a substandard word such as jist the doctors distinct impression that she was dealing with a little girl and when she ask her name she answer Im Peggy Lou Dorsett but sometimes I use Baldwin.ReflectionLets avoid stereotyping. We always think that when a men dress like a hippie his a bad person but the truth we dont know the man. So instead of judging person learn how to appreciate them in a way that they are also a person that has rights.5. Peggy Lou BaldwinUsing "fugue states" as a framework, the doctor planned to tell Sybil that, while she herself blacked out during these states, someone called Peggy appeared. Dr. Wilbur did not get the opportunity to tell this even in next appointment for Peggy stayed the whole hour And when the doctor tried to search for the thread that connected Peggy to Sybil, Peggy replied cryptically, "Oh, leave me alone. There are things I can't tell you. I jist can't. Peggy had said that Sybil couldn't get angry but that she could. ReflectionPeggy is the manifesto of Sybils hidden desire unable to release Sybils anger she let Peggy do the work. In conclusion Peggy Lou is Sybils defence against anger.6. Victoria Antoinette ScharleauThe next appointment had come. Then, wondering whether it was Sybil or Peggy who was waiting, the patient, sitting quietly, was absorbed in the pages of The New Yorker. When she saw the doctor, she got up at once, smiled, walked toward her, and said warmly, "Good morning, Dr. Wilbur." It was Vicky a sophisticated attractive blonde she was the one who finished the whole appointment and promised Wilbur that she will meet Peggy Ann.ReflectionLetting go of feeling that we keep inside of us can be good we will be free from the feeling of being trapped inside our own bodies and thus exposing ourselves to a lot of new possibilities and that is what you call living. Just be yourself.7. WhyDr. Cornelia Wilbur went to Academy of Medicine Library to read and make a research about persons with multiple personalities, but she found out that Sybils case was a far different into any other cases. Dr. Wilbur had no idea when was the first dissociation and whether all personality had emerged or some just came later Dr. Wilbur didn't actually know, but she surmised that Sybil's first dissociation had taken place during her childhood. The childishness of Peggy seemed to be a clue. ReflectionAs a God centred person I believe that how much we try only God has the power to know things that no one can acquire. Unless God himself show us the way to search for it like Dr. Wilber did. She studied Sybils case to answer the questions how and why.8. Willow CornersDuring the first 7 months of Sybils analysis she began to talk of her early environment, so Dr. Wilbur decided to take Sybil on a trip to her old town where she spent her first 18 years of her life the town seemed to be the same as the last time Sybil moved, the trip was not only good for Sybil but to the others as well.RefectionIt reminded me about our topic in Theories of Personality about Nature vs. Nurture. The environment plays a big part of the building character of a person. Its all about making who you are in this world.9. Yesterday Was NeverAt the time of her grandmothers funeral Hattie told Sybil to go to upstairs and gave her lollipop and promised her she could go down for the service but didnt when its time to bury her grandmother she wanted to join her, because Mary gave Sybil the love she craved for before jumping his uncle stopped her and then she blacked out where Peggy Lou took over for 2 years.ReflectionDont be selfish on letting people experience sorrow, pain and such. You are not protecting them from harm but rather you are preventing them to show and express their feelings to the person that they love that passed away. Its not ideal at all.10. Thieves of TimeWhen Sybil returned from the time of her grandmothers burial, she observed that everyone seemed to be fine as if her grandmother did not die, as soon as she realize it has been 2 years since the burial she met a friend Danny and ask him everything that had happened in the past two years she felt free with him like when she was with her grandmother and but soon left her to move to the other town.ReflectionNo man is an island. We need to communicate. We cant stand alone every time. Were just human we need to socialize to others to live a happy life.11. The Search for the CenterThis time Dr. Wilbur is trying to know the connection between her other personality she asked Vicky and then admitted that they were sisters and that suppose its a family therapy. Then Mary appeared, her maternal homebody the name was form her grandmother Dorsett, Mary still had not yet moved on with the death of her grandmother.ReflectionThe center of us is the one that our personality originates. 12. Silent WitnessesThe time of Sybils return after the two years absence between the ages of nine to eleven, this time she had her own room it was a relief for Sybil to have her own room for she do not need to face the bedroom drama she has always encounter for nine years, in psychoanalytic terms, is known as the "primal scene" where Sybil would watch the sexual intercourse of her parents, it was Ruthie who was most actively indignant.ReflectionThe title Silent Witnesses pertains to Ruthie, who emerged in analysis during the reliving of the primal scene. She was only a baby, perhaps of three and a half. Sex inside marriage is legal in both church and civil law but it must be done secretly and must not be shown to anyone especial to children for this would cause severe trauma to the child who is watching.13. The Terror of LaughterGreat Depression struck, Willard Dorsett suffered serious reverses, even losing his home. The house became the property of his sister in payment of an old debt, and Willard, virtually penniless, took his wife and daughter to live on farm land belonging to his parents five miles outside of Willow Corners. Hattie was not herself but Sybil liked it that way but when but when Hattie took the sled and she laughed that laugh that terrified Sybil then Hattie is back.ReflectionIn this chapter trauma is present. Sybil has always been terrified by the laughter of Hattie for that was the laugher when Hattie did thing to Sybil every morning when his father has gone to work and every time she hears it she thinks that Hattie would do bad thing to her again.14. HattieDr. Wilbur became increasingly convinced that it was impossible to treat Sybil without having a fullest understanding of Hattie. Hattie Dorsett as a major cause of Sybil's dissociation into multiple selves. Other traumatic experiences of Sybil happened in the drugstore when she brake the bottle an Hattie would accuse her You broke it!, Another thing that Hattie did was the horsy game that would require playing with Sybils vagina, and there was also another sexual scene Sybil witnessed with her mother and her girlfriends.ReflectionVery important chapter it answer the question how it started. Knowing this experiences that Sybil had with her mother made her case clearer and roots of the other selves was more visible.15. Battered Child The analysis unfolded a drama of cruelty, secret rituals, punishments, and atrocities inflicted by Hattie on Sybil. She had sought rescue from without until, finally recognizing that this rescue would be denied, she resorted to finding rescue from within. First there was the rescue of creating a pretend world, inhabited by a loving mother of fantasy, but, the doctor hypothesized; being a multiple personality was the ultimate rescue. By dividing into different selves, defences against not only an intolerable but also a dangerous reality, Sybil had found a modus operandi for survival. ReflectionWhen Sybil was experiencing cruelty and severe punishment from her mother she tried to seek help from other people but no one turn their heads to Sybil. So intrapersonal defense was her only resort that time16. Hatties Fury Has a Beginning The doctor, moreover, was convinced that this schizophrenic mother was the taproot of Sybil's dissociation into multiple selves. It therefore seemed essential to probe into what had caused the schizophrenia and to unravel what had made Hattie what she was. Hatties dream was to become a concert pianist, collapse of her ambitions when she was twelve years old. At that time her father yanked her out of the seventh grade to work in his music store. She was to replace in the store an elder sister. After that she became physically ill with chorea.ReflectionThe crushed dream of a child could be one of the worst things that a child could bare, because of her father yanking her out of school her dream of being a musician had gone with the wind and because of what happened, the schizophrenia was triggered and she became a non-nurturing person.17. WillardDr. Wilbur realized, was needed to substantiate the truth of the findings. Both Dr. Wilbur and Sybil would have been more sanguine about bringing seventy-four-year-old Willard Dorsett to New York from Detroit, where he lived, happily remarried and still working, if this were a court not of human emotions but of law. As a provider Willard had ups and downs, but about the love and attention for Sybil he did not managed to give.ReflectionWillard, leaving the house early and returning home late and would ask Sybil about the injuries in front of her mother the tendency would be the mother answering the question with a lie and Willard wont ask further questions like he doesnt care if it is a lie of the truth, that is why Sybil is not really sure if her father loves her or not.18. The Confrontation and VerificationWillard Dorsett entered Dr. Wilbur's anteroom, questions Dr. Wilbur was asking were not what he had anticipated. He had expected questions about Sybil's status as a thirty-four-year-old woman, alone in New York, trying to get well. Instead, the doctor was taking him back to Willow Corners and the years of his marriage to Hattie. Willard then was confronted with what really happened to Sybils injuries when she was a child and felt really guilty about it.ReflectionAs a parent you to know the real cause of your childs injuries in that way the child would feel that they have someone to count on with and feel more secure around them. Willard failed to do that

19. The BoysDr. Wilbur noticed that the voice was different from the one that had talked about the partition it was Sid. What most greatly impressed the doctor was that alternating selves had translated Sybil's wish and need for privacy into a constructive solution. She hypothesized that Sid was an identification with father; Mike, with grandfather Dorsett.ReflectionAs the lack of privacy Sybil then created a male personality to protect her and she portrayed the image of her father and grandfather to these two boys. Defence mechanism is present.20. The voice of OrthodoxySybil wanted to be free, but she was terrified that analysis would take her religion away. The terror was greatly intensified, moreover, by the realization that the help that she had always thought would come from God was now coming from Freud. Unready to accept this conclusion even though it was her own, she pondered whether both Freud and the Church could be right at the same time.ReflectionScience is always against to Religion. Now its on us to choose among the two. I chose God.21. The Wine of WrathAs Dr. Wilbur met Clara, Nancy, Marjorie and Helen the struggles has been more sever for the plan to integrate the other selves to the walking self was still in distant goal, the more distant because of the complicating emergence of new selves. Dr. Wilbur realized that there were risks to be faced. The very act of facing an uprooted trauma this could be a great risk for both Sybil and Dr. Wilbur.ReflectionTaking risks for the greater good is quiet hard especially in Sybils case for this risk would require re-experiencing the pain from the past but this time the walking self will be the only one experiencing it not only the bad experiences but also the knowledge that has been stolen to her by the other selves. 22. The Clock ComprehensibleIn January 3 session Sybil did not appeared nor the other selves after 5 days D. Wilbur received a letter from Peggy Ann saying why did she not help her from Broadwood Hotel sent to her address in Omaha, this time the Peggys were in charge of the body and had travelled everywhere, when Sybil returned to Dr. Wilbur she was surprised that the Dr. knew about what happened and then showed to her the tapes of the Peggys.RefectionAccepting the fact that the other selves was indeed a part of her would be a great help in the road of getting well and the first step is by Sybil meeting the other personalities and for her not to be afraid about the others committing crimes.

23. The Retreating White CoatDr. Wilbur finally identified the first dissociation it was way back when Sybil was just three and a half years old this was the time when she was still whole, in St. Marys Sybil was confined but she enjoyed the presence of the doctor, before she going she ask the doctor if he would want a little girl and just walked away with the white coat, again the rescue was gone and that was the time when Peggy Louisiana and Antoinette Scharleau was detached from Sybil.

ReflectionSybil now is considered as a depleted personality and now the other selves are protecting her from the force that has divided her in the first place. it started when the rescue that Sybil was expecting havent come. 24. SuicideSybil felt that outside the brackets was approximately one third of her waking life. She dreamt of 3 kittens with a dead mother beside a river and was represented in real life the tree kittens were Sybil and the others and Hattie was the dead mother. Feeling that her life was not getting forward but backward by the analysis she then attempted suicide but Vicky did not let her throw herself in the river.Reflection A last resort of ending a deep problem. It will never be beneficial to anyone. God is good. Dont lose hope. Just hold on 25. Beginning to Remember Dr. Wilbur prescribed Sybil pentothal that made her feel free land thus making her remember the memories that wasnt her, but Sybil and the other became addicted to the effects of pentothal. Sybil and the others murmured what have I done to that made the doctor shut me out? but Vicky then explained that they were being extremely addicted to Pentothal, Dr. Wilbur said that the is no drug that can ReflectionAs Sybil experienced the freedom that has not experienced before, Sybil then began to crave for that feeling by asking Dr. Wilbur for pentothal but even thou there are positive results that has manifested on Sybil, yet this would not be the cure to her multiple selves.26. Independent FuturesMary bought a house using Sybils name and checking account but it has been denied for Sybil didnt have the money for that, as Peggy Lou entered the scene she then wanted to take Sybils body on her own and leave town not considering the reality of the situation that Sybil doesnt have any money and so all of the selves used all their talents and turn it to money.Reflection Sybils other personality have their own frustration that the walking self doesnt know about, wanting to express themselves makes it more difficult for Sybil to live her own life. 27. Prisoners in Their BodySybil the walking self cant do the things she wanted to do because the other selves wouldnt let her sometimes they hid her underwear and wallet, sometimes they drive her far away enough to not make it to her appointment, sometimes she would fail her exams because Peggy Lou has kept all the mathematical, and chemical formulas. Although some of them have the same interest in their own ways and once intellectual intelligence is not greater than the other.Refection Theres a lot of hindrance in the life of Sybil that is why she feels trapped. As a prisoner inside her own body, it is not so easy to live the life Sybil would imagine, because the other selves wouldnt let her.28. Journey to oneDr. Wilbur asked Sybils permission for her to hypnotize Sybil, because she promised back then that she wouldnt for she has no idea how complex her case is, Dr. Wilbur now talked to Ruthe which was 2 years old and asked her to be older and later she asked Mike, Sid and the other to be thirty seven and three months and then it was done.ReflectionPeople grow old but sadly a lot of people refuses to grow up, their age changes but their minds are still the same, but its never too late for anyone to grow up if we let ourselves and do it religiously.29. They Are Me, TooThe integration was then been delayed because of Sybils religious beliefs session had passed but there were no hypnosis happened. Soon Dr. Wilbur talked to Peggy which by then a woman and she talked about whats holding back Sybil. The next summer session Wilbur hypnotized Sybil and ask for Peggy but then the voice was different she answer Shes Peggy Lou, Vicky and Sybil. The merging happened with the sleeping Sybil.ReflectionIn every decision in our life we consider a lot of factor like religion, law, and the approval of the society but the greatest factor is within ourselves we will decide on what will be the best for us.30. Hate HealsWhen Dr. Wilbur took Sybil for a ride she ask her if it is okay for her to hypnotize Sybil and she said ok even if theyre in the middle of the traffic just to know the root of her depression, as she let her anger for Hattie out she then calmed down. Sybil found a job as a receptionist in a hotel and met a guy named Ramon Allegre had a date couple of times and Sybil felt euphoria even if Dr. Wilbur is not with her.ReflectionExpressing your anger is not at all bad and in fact it is very healthy keeping in your anger only makes it harder for anyone to move on. It can boost your personality and making it healthy

31. Ramon Ramon and Sybil had plans on getting married and getting the children from Bogota and live in America as a whole family but Sybil rejected the offer even if she wanted to be the mother of those children because of her multiple selves but although this was a bad experience the effect was good for Sybil became more stronger and defended herself in the world.ReflectionLove is a one heck of a word that discusses complicated ideas. For Sybils case its not appropriate to feel this emotion to Ramon.32. One One by one the other selves began to be one with Sybil knowing that they will function better together and as Sybil became a whole person she now began living her life to the fullest she got a job as an occupational therapist in Pennsylvania, she and flora then became close friends and did things together and they wold notice the things that Sybil was unable to do back then that she more than capable of doing so.Reflection Sybil just enjoyed her life to the fullest even though she has multiple personality she is still the Sybil that is being narrate on the book. Im one. She believed in herself. Believing what you can actually do make us a better person and then best that could ever live.

ConclusionThis book tells a lot of issues in different forms in the story this issue had not given much attention that is why it continued until it reached the latests family member, another is the imbalance devotion to religion the literal translation of the bible can give a lot of confusion to anyone who has the same religious belief, another thing shown in the book was the decision making of a person or its reaction to a severe struggle in life whether or not to live and fight till the end of the battle or give up and take your own life and lastly is the reaction of the society when it comes to these kind of disorders especially the time when this book was written, over all its shows us how a simple people fought for their survival when given a challenge of their lives, and an eye opening for us that things like this can happen to any of us and there are reasons why it happened. I like the way that the author visualize each scene word by word and not by chapter but what Im looking for to this book is a treatment or cure for Sybils case rather than showing each dramatic scenes that is not necessary to include. Im just wondering if there is even a theory of treatment like Freuds hysteria in the book. Its a great book for psychology students but I really what the author to focus more on the cure but all in all its good.