What Shyamalan's 'Split' gets wrong about dissociative identity disorder

By Michael Nedelman, CNN

Updated 2132 GMT (0532 HKT) January 23, 2017

Many films and TV shows feature characters with dissociative identity disorder. Mental health advocates have criticized many of them for sensationalizing a diagnosis, often in horror movies and thrillers, that affects many people. In "Split," an M. Night Shyamalan film, James McAvoy plays a murderous villain with 24 personalities. Click through our gallery to see more examples of characters with multiple personalities.
Photos: TV and movie characters with multiple personalities
Many films and TV shows feature characters with dissociative identity disorder. Mental health advocates have criticized many of them for sensationalizing a diagnosis, often in horror movies and thrillers, that affects many people. In "Split," an M. Night Shyamalan film, James McAvoy plays a murderous villain with 24 personalities. Click through our gallery to see more examples of characters with multiple personalities.
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Brad Pitt, left, is Edward Norton's alternate personality, Tyler Durden, who launches a destructive anarchist organization in "Fight Club."
Photos: TV and movie characters with multiple personalities
Brad Pitt, left, is Edward Norton's alternate personality, Tyler Durden, who launches a destructive anarchist organization in "Fight Club."
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Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho." He takes on the alternate personality of his mother after killing her.
Photos: TV and movie characters with multiple personalities
Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho." He takes on the alternate personality of his mother after killing her.
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Toni Collette played a suburban mother with multiple personalities in Showtime's "United States of Tara."
Photos: TV and movie characters with multiple personalities
Toni Collette played a suburban mother with multiple personalities in Showtime's "United States of Tara."
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In the 1976 film "Sybil," Sally Field plays the title character, who has 16 personalities.
Photos: TV and movie characters with multiple personalities
In the 1976 film "Sybil," Sally Field plays the title character, who has 16 personalities.
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The power of the ring created alter-ego Gollum from hobbit Smeagol, who argue between themselves in "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" and other films in the franchise.
Photos: TV and movie characters with multiple personalities
The power of the ring created alter-ego Gollum from hobbit Smeagol, who argue between themselves in "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" and other films in the franchise.
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Jim Carrey, left, and Michael Bowman in "Me, Myself & Irene." Carrey plays a state trooper who develops a second personality, which interferes with his duties.
Photos: TV and movie characters with multiple personalities
Jim Carrey, left, and Michael Bowman in "Me, Myself & Irene." Carrey plays a state trooper who develops a second personality, which interferes with his duties.
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Halle Berry plays a dancer whose other personalities include a white Southern racist in "Frankie & Alice."
Photos: TV and movie characters with multiple personalities
Halle Berry plays a dancer whose other personalities include a white Southern racist in "Frankie & Alice."
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John Cusack is one of 10 strangers, all mysteriously with the same birthday, who start being murdered one by one in "Identity."
Photos: TV and movie characters with multiple personalities
John Cusack is one of 10 strangers, all mysteriously with the same birthday, who start being murdered one by one in "Identity."
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Jason Flemyng is one of many actors who has played Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, seen here in "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen."
Photos: TV and movie characters with multiple personalities
Jason Flemyng is one of many actors who has played Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, seen here in "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen."
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