The behaviour of an abuser can
encourage dissociation in two ways.
One, the abuser
might abuse the child in situation A and act loving and kind in situation B.
The child learns that, in a sense, the abuse does not exist in situation B and
must not even be thought about. This certainly encourages dissociation
Two, the
abuser knows that the child is able, and wants the child, to dissociate the
abuse experiences so she will not tell anyone about it. Dissociation may also
make the child more compliant as she switches into another personality who will
do what she is told. This can often happen in cases of ritual abuse.
