Sid and Mike Dorsett (1928)

Sid and Mike are Sybil's 'male' personalities. They are both reactions to the male authority figures in Sybil's life - her father and grandfather.

Sid was an identification with her dad. Sybil needed someone to depend on, and although her father was not ideal, was the only male figure available. The name comes from her initials - Sybil Isabel Dorsett. Sid, like Sybil's father, was a carpenter and builder.

Mike allowed Sybil to cope with her fanatical, aggressive grandfather by becoming like him. This allowed her to deal with the fear, anger and hatred aroused by Grandpa. As Mike himself said:

"How could Sybil get along with her grandfather? He was always there and always right. The only way to get along with him was to either lick him or join him. So I joined him."

Both selves were an extension of Sybil's hatred of her mother to a hatred of all females. Both suffered from literal penis envy. How Freud would have loved to meet them!

Return to Sybil