Rewriting the Soul: Multiple Personality and the Sciences of Memory

At the center of attention is the history of multiple personality and the ideas that have made it an important topic for psychology, psychiatry, and the philosophy of science. The author traces how clinical cases, discussions of traumatic memories, and debates about false and recovered memory have influenced contemporary understanding of the self. A separate focus is on the idea that memory is gradually becoming a "surrogate for the soul," and trauma is a significant part of personal identity formation. The Russian edition also relates these observations to later cultural shifts, including mass interest in therapy, the popularization of mental diagnoses, and public discussions about violence.