An epochal division is a clinical term coined by Richard P Kluft in ~1988 in relation to "extremely complex multiple personality disorder", now called polyfragmented DID. It has been shown to be relatively common in such systems, and refers to a phenomena where major life changes cause systems to replicate some or all of their alters, with the previously existing alters either remaining active or becoming more covert/dormant[1]. This phenomenon may be misinterpreted or described as a system reset by systems unfamiliar with the term or who wish to use less medical terminology.
Kluft listed the following reasons for epochal divisions:
- A wish to make a new start
- Rebirth fantasies
- Anniversaries
- Moving
- Change in schools
- Change in family structure
- Marriage
- Pressure to escape life
- ↑ The Phenomenology and Treatment of Extremely Complex Multiple Personality Disorder, Richard P. Kluft, 1988