Norman Bates has dissociative identity disorder (DID) in the film Psycho. He switches between his own personality and that of his deceased mother. At times he speaks in his mother's voice and dresses as her. It is his mother's personality that commits the murders, though Norman helps cover them up. The film leaves unclear what childhood trauma caused Norman's DID and whether he is fully aware of having his mother's alternate identity.

1. Dissociative Identity
Disorder in The Movie
Psycho
By
Rudy Kwiatkowski

2. Psycho Plot
● The story begins with a woman embezzling $40,000
from the company she works for. She ends up in
the sleazy Bates Motel on the way to her lover’s
hometown.
● She meets Norman Bates. After being shown to her
room, and overhearing Norman and his mother
arguing, she ends up having dinner with him.
During this time as they talk, she encourages him to
consider life beyond the motel and his mother.
● Norman is touched by her kindness, but feels
threatened by his own feelings, and thus he decides
to kill her in the famous shower scene.

3. Plot Continued
● After the murder, as he disposes of her body,
and the investigation ensues, his life and
psychological state deteriorates even further.
● The climax occurs with the discovery of the
skeleton of Norman’s long dead mother in a
rocking chair in the basement, and Norman
dressed as his mother then attempts to kill the
murdered woman’s sister.
● The film ends with a scene of Norman alone in
an interrogation room being chastised by the
voice of his mother.

4. Norman Bates
● Initially, he appears to be a normal, yet awkward young
man living with his mother and managing the family
motel.
● He is in conflict with his mother, who does not approve
of him spending time with the woman guest.
● He believes that a son’s first priority should be his
mother.
● After the murder, it becomes clear that he is mentally ill.

5. What is Dissociative Identity Disorder?
According to the DSM 5, Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is characterized by:
● Two or more distinct personalities
● These personality states are seen as a state of possession
● A person must experience amnesia, or a gap in memory of everyday events
● The disorder must cause distress or impairment in functioning in major areas
of life
● The disturbance is not caused by cultural or religious influences
● The symptoms are not the result of psychological effects from a substance

6. Symptoms of DID
● Loss of memory or amnesia for periods of time
● One may feel the presence of two or more alternate personalities and it may
feel as if one is possessed
● Identities may or may not be aware of each other, and one may be more
aware than the other(s)
● Each identity may have unique names, characteristics and history including
gender and physical characteristics

7. Signs Norman Bates had DID
● It becomes clear that Norman is switching between his main personality, and
that of his deceased mother.
● Based on conversations throughout the movie, at times Norman is completely
overtaken by the personality, behaviors and motives of his mother.
● As the symptoms of the disorder dictate, Norman at time spoke in his
mother’s voice, and dressed in her clothes.
● As the shower scene and the climax indicate, it is his mother’s personality
that does the killing. However, it is Norman who gets rid of the evidence, thus
protecting his mother.

8. Things not Explored in the Film
● It appears that Norman is aware of his mother’s presence, but it is unclear if
he realizes that he himself carries his mother’s identity along with his own.
● There are no clear examples of Norman experiencing loss of memory or
amnesia in the film.
● The movie leaves unclear what factors contributed to Norman’s DID such as
severe childhood trauma and/or abuse.

9. Rudy’s Take on Norman Bates and DID
● Although Bates’ background is unclear, it would not be difficult to believe that
his mother and possibly his father were abusive towards their son. The
number one example of this is in the way the voice of Mrs. Bates constantly
chastises her son. What is clear is that Norman Bates is not the only
personality residing in this young man.
● It is also pretty sad to think about how lacking treatment would have been for
an individual suffering from DID at this period in time, as current treatment is
still relatively questionable depending on the severity of the disorder.

11. References
https://www.healthyplace.com/abuse/dissociative-identity-disorder/dissociative-identity-disorder-did-dsm-5-criteria
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dissociative-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20355215
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-psycho-1960
Images taken from google