Abstract

This research critically examines the portrayal of dissociative identity disorder (DID) in Liv Constantine's The Stranger in the Mirror. While acknowledging the novel's compelling depiction of dissociative amnesia's terror and its accurate grounding in childhood trauma etiology, the analysis highlights significant concerns. The narrative weaponizes dissociation primarily as a plot device for deception, contradicting clinical understanding of trauma-induced memory fragmentation. Furthermore, it perpetuates harmful stereotypes by depicting alters as inherently dangerous and utilizing exaggerated physical shifts during identity transitions. Consequently, the novel's thriller conventions often undermine its potential for empathy, inadvertently reinforcing stigma despite aiming to explore DID's psychological reality. The portrayal presents a tension between authenticity and dramatic sensationalism.