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Dissociative Identity Disorder in Fight Club


Nupur Nataraja
Dissociative identity disorder is a severe disorder in which distinct identities take control of an individual alternately. This blog post will examine possible reasons the narrator suffers from dissociative identity disorder and how the disorder is portrayed in the film Fight Club.
In the movie, the audience is introduced to an average white collared, middle-aged man as the narrator. It is clear that the narrator suffers from insomnia, anxiety, and depression very early in the film. Moreover, the narrator also suffers from dissociative identity disorder wherein he exhibits two personalities. The narrator seems to have a negative outlook on life. Therefore, he forms an alter personality to take charge and gain some satisfaction from his life. The personality is in the form of Tyler Durden, who can be seen as a physically powerful, attractive, well-groomed and rebellious man. However, the audience is unaware of Tyler Durden being the narrator’s alternate personality until the end of the movie.
The diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder for the narrator has been debated as there are claims of inaccurate development of the psychological disorder. These suspicions rise from the fact that the narrator did not (to the extent of the audience) undergo any form of childhood trauma. However, these claims were soon proven wrong as dissociative identity disorder can also be a result of traumatic events experienced by an individual. Although, the narrator also confesses of not having a father figure or a role model during his upbringing process which is considered extremely important, especially for a male child. This helps us understand why he relies on Tyler. In a way, Tyler is seen acting as a father figure to Jack showing him the need for aggression and authority. Therefore, the disorder may have actually been a result of the narrator’s childhood.
Moreover, the narrator’s anxiety and feelings of entrapment – spurred by the structure of modern society – caused him to disassociate. He might have created Tyler in order to find his manliness since the loss of his property takes it away from him. This also pushed the narrator and Tyler to create an underground group called the Fight Club. The sole purpose of the club was to create a venue through which men can relive stress and regain their strength. Furthermore, the Tyler Durden alter ego becomes a factor in the narrator’s sex life. The movie reveals that Marla Singer was having sex with Tyler, which tells us that his alter ego was in effect when he was with her. Hence, it is possible to assume that Marla was a catalyst to the creation of Tyler. The narrator was possibly intimidated by her nonchalant personality. He lacked self-confidence and therefore became somebody she would want to be with.
The movie portrays the idea that the alternate identities in dissociative identity disorder are present as a coping mechanism for the individual. Tyler, a more stronger and assertive personality, takes over the narrator. “I’ll bring us through this, as always” Tyler tells him.  The movie shows the domination of consumerism wherein Tyler Durden represents the narrator’s inward urge to break free from the system. The narrator is not aware of this until the climax, however, Tyler is aware of his role throughout the movie. This can be seen by certain important dialogues such as, “All the ways you wish you could be, that’s me. I look like you want to look, I fuck like you want to fuck, I am smart, capable and most importantly, I am free in all the ways that you are not.” Soon, the Fight Club evolves into Project Mayhem, an organization with individuals bent on dismantling society. This may be because the narrator, even after indulging in high forms of rebellion, still fought with the fear of never fitting into the society’s mould.
The narrator is seen wrestling with himself the entire movie. He is seen repeating what Tyler tells him, showing us that he slips in and out of his desire to be Tyler. He also shows symptoms of what the DSM identifies as dissociative identity disorder such as severe memory loss and numerous blackouts. Moreover, Fight club uses dissociative identity disorder as a hyperbole to show the repressed angst each individual faces against the structure of modern consumerist society. Therefore, the movie portrays the disorder as a saving grace rather than in a negative role. Overall, although a far-fetched and fictitious film, Fight Club is still rooted with many psychological truths.  

Works Cited
Kolsuz, S., & Kolsuz, S. (n.d.). Fight Club And Dissociative Identity Disorder: Causes, Symptoms And Treatments. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/37846377/Fight_Club_And_Dissociative_Identity_Disorder_Causes_Symptoms_And_Treatments
M. V. (n.d.). "Psycho," "Fight Club," and "Split:" Dissociative Identity Disorder in Film. Retrieved from https://repository.uwyo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1050&context=honors_theses_16-17.

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