Étienne Eugène Azam
Encyclopedia
Étienne Eugène Azam was a French surgeon
from Bordeaux
who is chiefly remembered for his work in psychology
, particularly a case involving a female patient he named "Félida X" who seemed to have "alternating personalities", or what Azam referred to as doublement de la vie.
Over a number of years Azam studied Félida's psychological profile and from his research published three reports. He described Félida as a hysterical
patient who had a serious and sad (normal) state, along with a merry and generous state. He analyzed these two states as two distinct, separate personalities that seemed to be unaware of the other.
The case of Félida X is one of the earliest documented descriptions of what would later be called a multiple personality disorder
. At the time, this situation garnered interest in the medical community, and created several puzzling questions in regards to the concept of Self
, as well as to the definition of personal ego. Additionally from a quasi-religious context, the concept of multiple personalities was contrary to the paranormal
belief system of Spiritualism (religious movement), which had a large following in the 19th century.
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
from Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
who is chiefly remembered for his work in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, particularly a case involving a female patient he named "Félida X" who seemed to have "alternating personalities", or what Azam referred to as doublement de la vie.
Over a number of years Azam studied Félida's psychological profile and from his research published three reports. He described Félida as a hysterical
Hysteria
Hysteria, in its colloquial use, describes unmanageable emotional excesses. People who are "hysterical" often lose self-control due to an overwhelming fear that may be caused by multiple events in one's past that involved some sort of severe conflict; the fear can be centered on a body part, or,...
patient who had a serious and sad (normal) state, along with a merry and generous state. He analyzed these two states as two distinct, separate personalities that seemed to be unaware of the other.
The case of Félida X is one of the earliest documented descriptions of what would later be called a multiple personality disorder
Dissociative identity disorder
Dissociative identity disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis and describes a condition in which a person displays multiple distinct identities , each with its own pattern of perceiving and interacting with the environment....
. At the time, this situation garnered interest in the medical community, and created several puzzling questions in regards to the concept of Self
Self-concept
Self-concept is a multi-dimensional construct that refers to an individual's perception of "self" in relation to any number of characteristics, such as academics , gender roles and sexuality, racial identity, and many others. Each of these characteristics is a research domain Self-concept (also...
, as well as to the definition of personal ego. Additionally from a quasi-religious context, the concept of multiple personalities was contrary to the paranormal
Paranormal
Paranormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
belief system of Spiritualism (religious movement), which had a large following in the 19th century.
Selected work
- Hypnotisme, double conscience et altérations de la personnalité: le cas Félida X (Hypnotism, double conscience and deteriorations of the personality: the case Félida X), (1887); Étienne Eugene Azam, with an introduction by Serge Nicolas.