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).

The things outsiders have theorized aren't conclusive. We will never know exactly went on with this case, as everyone's dead now.
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Erica - how do you know the abuse was real? I'm not minimizing the impact if it did occur but once someone starts embellishing, where does the truth end and the imagination begin?

The abuse she went through growing up WAS real, that's enough. Trying to deny it or being ignorant to it is cowardly and just as cruel as the punishments.

Sorry but you're an idiot.

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?"

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?"

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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.