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One Person, Multiple Minds 24个比利：浅谈多重人格分裂症

 

课文朗读

 

课文讲解 

 

繁體中文譯本

 

In October 1977, a man named Billy Milligan was arrested and charged with abducting and raping three women on the Ohio State University campus in the U.S. However, when police started to question him about the crimes, it soon became apparent that Billy was no ordinary criminal. His voice, facial expressions, and mannerisms kept changing, much to the puzzlement of his questioners. And when a psychologist addressed him as “Billy,” his reply was alarming: “Billy’s asleep. I’m David.”

1977年10月，一个名叫比利．密里根的人遭逮捕，他被指控在美国俄亥俄州立大学校园诱拐及强暴三名女性。然而，当警方开始针对这些罪行讯问他时，很快地他们便发现，比利与一般罪犯有明显的不同。他的嗓音、脸部表情及习惯性的小动作一直不断改变，让问讯者如坠五里雾中。且当某位心理学家称呼他为「比利」时，他竟给了一个令人震惊的回答：「比利睡着了，我是戴维。」

 

It turned out that Billy Milligan suffered from an extreme case of a psychiatric condition known as multiple personality disorder (MPD). This diagnosis led to him being found not guilty of his crimes, on the grounds of insanity, and instead of being locked in prison, he was sent to a mental institution. The case of Billy Milligan received worldwide press attention at the time, bringing the mysterious disorder that afflicted him into the public spotlight.

原来比利．密里根得了一种极罕见的精神疾病，叫做多重人格分裂症(MPD)。这项诊断使他以精神错乱为由获判无罪，且被送往一间精神病院，而不需要受牢狱之灾。当时，比利．密里根的案例受到全世界媒体的关注，使困扰折磨他的神秘病症成为瞩目焦点。

 

Eventually, a staggering total of 24 distinct identities were found to exist in Billy’s crowded mind, varying in mental age and IQ level as well as in character. Apart from David, a timid nine-year-old boy, there were also Ragen, 23, a violent Yugoslavian with a taste for robbery, and Adelena, a 19-year-old lesbian who admitted to being behind the rapes. It took many years of treatment before Billy learned to effectively take control of his multiple personalities, but he was finally released in 1988. Nowadays, he lives a secluded life in California, where, mercifully, his other identities pay only the occasional visit.

最后，在比利拥挤不堪的脑袋里，共发现了高达24个不同人格，在心智年龄、智商及性格方面各不相同。除了胆小的9岁男孩戴维之外，还有23岁南斯拉夫裔的暴力抢劫犯里根及19岁女同性恋阿达娜，她坦认犯下那几起强暴案。比利花了好几年时间接受治疗，才学会有效控制他的多重人格，而最后在1988年出院。现在，他在加州过着隐居的生活，而值得庆幸的是，他的其他人格偶尔才会出现。

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

charge [tʃɑrdʒ] v. 控告，指控[（+with）]

campus [ˋkæmpəs] n. 校园，校区

criminal [ˋkrɪmən!] n. 罪犯

puzzlement [ˋpʌz!mənt] n. 迷惑；费解

psychologist [saɪˋkɑlədʒɪst] n. 心理学家

alarming [əˋlɑrmɪŋ] adj. 惊人的；令人担忧的

disorder [dɪsˋɔrdɚ] n.  (机能)失调

diagnosis [͵daɪəgˋnosɪs] n. 诊断

on the grounds of 以……为理由

institution [͵ɪnstəˋtjuʃən] n. 机构

spotlight [ˋspɑt͵laɪt] n. 公众注意的中心

distinct [dɪˋstɪŋkt] adj. 明显的，清楚的

vary [ˋvɛrɪ] v. 使不同

timid [ˋtɪmɪd] adj. 易受惊的；羞怯的

 

More Information

单词发音

 

arrest [əˋrɛst] v. 逮捕

abduct [æbˋdʌkt] v. 绑架；劫持

rape [rep] v. 强奸

mannerism [ˋmænərɪzm] n.〔某人所特有的说话或动作的〕习性; 习气

questioner [ˋkwɛstʃənɚ] n. 发问者；质问者

address [əˋdrɛs] v. 称呼

psychiatric [͵saɪkɪˋætrɪk] adj. 精神病学的

insanity [ɪnˋsænətɪ] n.（被认为行为者可免负法律责任的）精神失常

mental [ˋmɛnt!] adj. 精神的，心理的

mental institution 精神病院 a hospital for mentally incompetent or unbalanced person

afflict [əˋflɪkt] v. 【正式】使受痛苦; 折磨

staggering [ˋstægərɪŋ] adj. 令人吃惊[震惊]的; 令人难以置信的

Yugoslavian [jugoˋslɑvɪən] n. 南斯拉夫人

taste [test] n. 爱好，兴趣

lesbian [ˋlɛzbɪən] n. 女同性恋者

secluded [sɪˋkludɪd] adj. 与世隔绝的

mercifully [ˋmɝsɪfəlɪ] adv. 幸运地; 幸而; 幸亏〔指情况本来可能更糟〕

pay (somebody/something) a visit 访问, 拜访 to go to see someone or something

 

 

 

课文朗读

 

课文讲解 

 

Since the time of Billy Milligan, multiple personality disorder has been reclassified as dissociative identity disorder (DID). In order for someone to be diagnosed as suffering from DID, at least two alternative identities, or “alter egos,” must present themselves frequently. These personalities are capable of taking control of the individual’s behavior, a process that often results in serious memory loss.

从比利．密里根的病例之后，多重人格分裂症被重新归类为「解离性身分疾患」(DID)。要诊断某人是否得此病症，患者至少要有两个经常出现的可互换身分，亦称「他我」。这些身分能控制个体的行为，却也因此常导致其严重丧失记忆。

 

Up until the 19th century, people who exhibited symptoms of DID were believed to be victims of spiritual or demonic possession. Even today, though, with rational psychological theory having largely replaced such superstitions, the exact causes of the disorder are unclear. One common assumption is that it is linked to episodes of overwhelming stress and trauma, such as child abuse. This was certainly true in the case of Billy Milligan, who is said to have been repeatedly abused by his stepfather as a child. When treating DID, the aim is to fuse the multiple identities into a single functional one through therapy and medication.

直到19世纪，出现解离性身分疾患症状的人都被认为是被鬼魂或恶灵附身。然而，即使目前有理性的心理学理论大幅推翻这种迷信，人们还是不清楚这种疾病的真正起因为何。其中一种普遍假设是认为它与巨大压力或造成精神创伤的经历有关系，例如儿时惨遭虐待。这的确是发生在比利．密里根身上的情况，因为据说他孩提时不断遭到继父虐待。而医治解离性身分疾患时，目标是要透过治疗及药物把多重人格融合成单一、能正常生活的人。

 

In recent years, there has been some controversy regarding the validity of DID, with some psychiatrists claiming that it is not a genuine disorder. Diagnoses are still largely confined to North America, and even Billy himself has reportedly expressed concern that many of those identified as DID sufferers may not be genuine. There’s little doubt, however, that Billy’s experiences were very real. For those curious to know more about his compelling story, keep your eyes peeled for the biographical movie The Crowded Room, which is currently in development.

近几年来，对解离性身份疾患这种疾病的真实性仍有争议，有些精神科医师宣称它并非真的疾病。诊断病例大部分仍局限于北美洲，且据报导，甚至连比利本人也曾忧心被诊断得病的患者并非真的得此疾病。但比利的经历则是几乎不假，而那些感到好奇的人，若想知道更多关于他的精采故事，请持续关注目前正在筹摄中的自传电影《拥挤的房间》（暂译）。

 

−by David Vickers

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

alternative [ɔlˋtɝnətɪv] adj. 替代的

spiritual [ˋspɪrɪtʃʊəl] adj. 精神（上）的，心灵的

rational [ˋræʃən!] adj. 合理的

replace [rɪˋples] v. 取代

superstition [͵supɚˋstɪʃən] n. 迷信

assumption [əˋsʌmpʃən] n. 假定，设想

overwhelming [͵ovɚˋhwɛlmɪŋ] adj. 势不可挡的；令人不知所措的

trauma [ˋtrɔmə] n.（感情等方面的）创伤; 痛苦的经历

fuse [fjuz] v. 融合；结合

functional [ˋfʌŋkʃən!] adj. 正常运转的

therapy [ˋθɛrəpɪ] n. 治疗，疗法

regarding [rɪˋgɑrdɪŋ] prep. 关于；就……而论

confine [kənˋfaɪn] v. 使局限[（+to）]

compelling [kəmˋpɛlɪŋ] adj. 令人注目的

 

More Information

单词发音

 

reclassify [riˋklæsə͵faɪ] v. 将……重新分类

dissociative [dɪˋsoʃɪ͵etɪv] adj. 分裂的

alter ego【拉】第二个我; 另一个自我

demonic [diˋmɑnɪk] adj. 恶魔的

possession [pəˋzɛʃən] n. 鬼魂附体；着魔

episode [ˋɛpə͵sod] n. 一段经历

abuse [əˋbjus] n. 虐待

controversy [ˋkɑntrə͵vɝsɪ] n. 争议

validity [vəˋlɪdətɪ] n.【律】有效性；效力；合法性

psychiatrist [saɪˋkaɪətrɪst] n. 精神病医师

genuine [ˋdʒɛnjʊɪn] adj. 真的；非伪造的；名副其实的

keep one's eyes peeled 仔细观察 to watch very carefully for something

peeled [pild] adj. 剥去皮的

biographical [͵baɪəˋgræfɪk!] adj. 传记的

 

 

Reading Questions 

 

1. What do we know about Billy Milligan from the article?

A. He was set free in 1988.

B. He murdered some people.

C. He was sent to prison in 1977.

D. He was a student at Ohio State University.

 

2. Which of the following is NOT a suitable description of Billy’s behavior?

A. He spoke with different voices.

B. He appeared to be very unstable.

C. He tended to dress up as a woman.

D. His identities ranged from shy to aggressive.

 

3. What is true about DID?

A. It was originally known as MPD.

B. It was first discovered in the 19th century.

C. Most sufferers possess two separate identities.

D. People who suffer from it tend to abuse children.

 

4. What is the main theme of the second half of the article?

A. How to successfully treat DID.

B. The typical characteristics of DID.

C. Various kinds of personality disorders.

D. The importance of the case of Billy Milligan.

 

 

Dissociative Identity Disorder

 

Dissociative Identity Disorder Documentary

 

MPD patient switching on command and in brain scanner.mpg

 

Project Eve(The Three Faces of Eve)

 

 

 

 

Answer

1. ( A )

2. ( C )

3. ( A )

4. ( B )