Eve White and The Three Faces of Eve
Book and Movie Based on Case of Multiple Personality Disorder
The book was co-authored by psychiatrists Hervey Cleckley, a pioneer in sociopathy, and Corbett H. Thigpen. Chris Costner Sizemore’s identity was protected and not revealed until years later when Sizemore and her cousin, wrote I’m Eve.
The Three Faces of Eve
Eve White saw psychiatrist Curtis Luther because of her bizarre behavior. She denied buying seductive clothing and cavorting in bars. Curtis soon met Eve Black, an alter, different personality. He realized he was dealing with a rare little known psychiatric disorder and began extensive psychotherapy to try to find her lost memories.
Eve Black Reveals Herself
Eve White sought psychiatric help because of severe headaches. During the first session, she complained about blackouts following them. During ensuing visits, she talked about several emotional issues. The psychiatrists believed she had marital problems and frustrations, but were puzzled that she had no memory of a recent trip. They used hypnosis for the amnesia. Several days after an appointment, they received a letter from White about her therapy, written in her handwriting, but there was a paragraph that looked like a child’s scrawl. White denied sending it.
During another session, White became distressed and asked if hearing an imaginary voice made her insane. On several occasions, she heard one. Suddenly, she put both hands to her head, then her hands dropped and she had an alien voice and appeared to have different mannerisms. She said her name was Eve Black.
Eves White, Black and Jane
During a series of sessions, extensive material was obtained about both Eve’s behavior and experiences. Although Black would appear unexpectedly, she could only be summoned when White was under hypnosis. After more sessions, the doctors found that hypnosis was no longer needed for summoning Black.
They believed Black had an independent life since White’s early childhood and White wasn’t aware of what was happening. Black told the doctors about childhood incidents when she misbehaved and White was punished for them. Some of these were confirmed by her parents and husband. Black hid her identity from White, her parents and husband. White’s husband, daughter and parents explained her unusual behavior as unaccountable temper fits. Black had little compassion for White and wouldn’t help with therapy.
After eight months of treatment, White appeared to be making progress. Her blackouts stopped and she was functioning well. As therapy progressed, White’s headaches and her blackouts returned. Black denied responsibility and said that she also experienced lack of awareness during blackouts. White’s mental health deteriorated and hospitalization was considered.
During one hypnotic session, White appeared to be deeply relaxed when she opened her eyes and stared around the room. She looked at the doctor and asked who he was in a new voice. Another personality, Jane emerged. She was more responsible than Black and more confident than White. Jane was aware of both Eves’ thoughts and behavior. She was the alter who was most likely to bring a solution to the disorder and her dominance over the other personalities grew. The three personalities were integrated.
What the Doctors Learned from Eve White and her Alters
Thigpen and Cleckley were convinced that White had multiple personalities. The consensus of mental health professionals is that MPD is a function of an abused child’s attempt to protect the mind.
The psychiatrists involved Eve's relatives to help verify certain memories to add information and more understanding to the case. They asked independent experts to perform a variety of tests including an EEG, along with psychometric and projective tests.
Critics say it’s possible the psychiatrists could have been fooled by adept acting. Thigpen and Cleckley recognized this and asserted that chicanery couldn’t have continued for so long and consistently. Some critics claim the diagnosis of MPD is unreliable. There are more cases reported in the US than the UK. Perhaps this demonstrates that some psychiatrists are more likely to diagnose MPD. An argument that’s gaining popularity is that some mental health professionals are creating MPD by unknowingly, leading their patients to believe they have the disorder.
Articles Related to Eve White
Readers who enjoyed this article might be interested in Paranormal Realm MPD and Possession Part 1 and Paranormal Realm MPD and Possession Part II.
Sources:
- Abnormal Psychology, Ephraim Rosen and Ian Gregory, (W. B. Saunders Company, 1965)
- Minds in Many Pieces, Ralph Allison and Ted Schwartz, (Rawson Wade Publishers, Inc., 1980)
- The Three Faces of Eve, Corbett H. Thigpen and Hervey M. Cleckley, (Secker and Warbug, 1957)
Fragmented Personalities Like Broken Bottles
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