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The Disunity of Consciousness in Psychiatric Disorders

Tim Bayne

Oxford Handbooks Online September 5, 2013 DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199579563.013.0041 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed
Key points Argues that the unity of consciousness can be disrupted in multiple ways across psychiatric disorders such as multiple personality disorder, schizophrenia, and depersonalization, revealing different forms of unity rather than a single unified consciousness.

Abstract

It is often said that the normal unity of consciousness fragments, and perhaps even breaks down entirely, in psychiatric disorders. This chapter examines ways in which the unity-or, better, unities-of consciousness might be lost in the context of psychiatric disorders, such as multiple personality disorder, schizophrenia, and depersonalization.