A curated series of posts

History of hysteria

Tracing the evolution of dissociation through clinical history

This series examines how dissociative experiences were conceptualized before the dominance of identity-based models. From fugue states to hysterical neuroses, it explores how earlier and contemporary frameworks understood fragmentation without invoking multiple selves—and how those understandings were reshaped into modern diagnoses.

Posts in this series

While there are currently no posts in this series, I recommend the book Soul Murder by Leonard Shengold as an alternative exploration of how dissociation can be conceptualized.

Coming soon in this series

  • From Hysteria to identity: a timeline of dissociation
  • Janet and the lost foundations of dynamic psychology
  • Somnambulism: a forgotten, yet pertinent, phenomenon
  • How early fugue states informed dissociative models
  • Historic alternatives to modern DID narratives


Questions? Comments?
Contact me