Can an alter hate the host?

Can an alter hate the host? A Look into the Complex Reality of Dissociative Identities

In the complexities of dissociative identity disorders, it is not unheard of for alters to despise or resent the host personality. The host personality is often seen as vulnerable and powerless, making alters’ hatred towards them almost instinctual. In reality, the dynamics between alternates and the host identity can be a delicate equilibrium of power struggles, where alter personalities may feel an inherent dislike for the host due to their perceived weakness, powerlessness, or inexperience.

The Origins of Alters’ Hatred towards the Host

Several factors contribute to the dislike towards the host personality exhibited by alters. These range from the trauma and maltreatment experienced by the victim in the past to conflicts of interest between the inner world of the individual struggling with dissociative identity and their external environment. Each time an individual experiences neglect, abuse, or domestic violence, they may incorporate different aspects of their ego and personality into separate psychological parts, which eventually may be perceived as separate inner beings or alters.

Alters may view the host personality as a weak enabler, as they are often more inclined to please authorities or maintain social norms through excessive compliance, which perpetuates the power imbalance from within. The host being relatively powerless to control all internal processes can lead inner identities to perceive them negatively and even fear them over being discovered and controlled at will.

The Internal World of Dissociate Individuals

Individuals with a dissociative identity disorder suffer from a split in themselves between their external and their inner worlds. This has caused them to develop survival techniques, which include avoiding overwhelming emotions and memories (called "switching’). Over time, these switches could lead to the onset of multiple personality disorder/dissociative identity disorders (MPD/D). There are instances where switching leads to an individual manifesting different personality traits among separate inner beings, now more commonly referred to by various terms, such as fragments, aspects, dissociated states, or aspects.