Sorry but this was all faked
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Sybil
zooeyhall — 14 years ago(January 25, 2012 08:20 AM)
I watched this movie in the 70's, so I'm old enough to remember how things were back then, especially with Hollywood's penchant for sensationalism.
The following quote says it perfectly:
"The Seventies had an obsession with psychodrama and mysticism that endures, in somewhat diluted form, through our modern Oprahfied therapeutic culture. The study of real mental illness, a very serious topic in need of constant attention from dedicated scientists, has been sadly distorted by these pop-culture obsessions."
Read this interesting article, which devastates all the "Sybil" claims:
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=46921
Readers were horrified by the events in the movie. But in reality, we should reserve our horror for the cynical and opportunistic "experts" who exploit others and downright lie for their own personal benefit. We saw it in the McMartin "child abuse" case (which even involved accusations of witchcraftshades of the Salem Witch tirals!), and it was the exact same thing with "Sybil". -
bonniebonniebanks — 14 years ago(March 18, 2012 10:42 PM)
It sounds as though Shirley (whose life Sybil was based on) was an interesting study and did lapse in and out of disassociation but there was no 16 personalities and it wasn't always clear 'who' she was when she wasn't Shirley. Basically what happened is that Shirley would have long spells where she didn't know where she'd been but she had indeed shopped and socialised.
Simply put - they enhanced it and turned it into a good story.
I do believe that she was sadistically abused. Crazy people can do bizarre things and often to children who are weak and love their parents unconditionally. -
hodie — 12 years ago(April 27, 2013 08:01 AM)
Sybil did have anemia. If it was pernicious anemia, that could have been accountable for the strange feelings and sensations she had. She seems to have been a highly suggestible woman who wanted to please her doctor, and under drugs and hypnosis, came up with incredible stories with the participation of Dr. Wilbur.
And the OP's description of the 70s is right on target.
"Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?" -
hodie — 12 years ago(April 27, 2013 08:04 AM)
Sybil did have anemia. If it was pernicious anemia, that could have been accountable for the strange feelings and sensations she had. She seems to have been a highly suggestible woman who wanted to please her doctor, and under drugs and hypnosis, came up with incredible stories with the participation of Dr. Wilbur.
And the OP's description of the 70s is right on target.
"Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?" -
jaroslaw99 — 9 years ago(September 14, 2016 05:07 AM)
I was 15 or 16 when I saw this TV miniseries. I won't pretend that I knew then what I know now in my middle 50's but I was more than a bit skeptical even at 15. Had I known Flora Shreiber was under contract to get this book pumped out and the good Dr. had given "Shirley/Sybil" so many drugs I would have been super skeptical. I read the Human Events link you posted, excellent article. (proving once again that the love of money is the root of all evil).