I propose to trace in the course of this study, first, the gradual growth by successive syntheses of this rebellious cluster with other idea-clusters during a period of fourteen years.
Second, its incubation, organization and segregation from the main personality during a second period of five years as a fairly well defined unitary complex known as the B complex.
Third, the culmination of the incubating process and, as the result of an emotional shock, final bursting into flower of the B complex as the B personality (i.e., nineteen years from the time of the beginning of disaggregation through rebellious thoughts).
Fourth, the reversion to the original personality, but now one so disintegrated, shorn and shattered by the segregation of the autonomous B complex and of certain instincts as to be a so-called secondary disintegrated personality, A.
Fifth, the alternation of these two strongly contrasted abnormal personalities.
Finally, the reintegration of the two abnormal personalities into one normal original personality, C.
In following the evolution of the personalities my main purpose will be to bring to light the psychological forces which brought about the disaggregation, on the one hand, and the synthetic construction of the new personal systems, on the other. The following arrangement of these changes in the personality by periods will be convenient for reference.[[272]]
| Period | I. | From wedding to beginning of husband’s illness (14 years) characterized by a group of rebellious ideas. |
| Period | II. | During husband’s illness (4 years) and one year thereafter (5 years), characterized by B complex and terminating with shock. |
| Period | III. | Beginning with shock, characterized by B personality and terminating one month later by another shock in |
| Period | IV. | Personality A, plus B complex, lasting one week, followed by |
| Period | V. | Characterized by alternations of A and B personalities and lasting several years until reintegrated in original normal personality, C. |
All these changes from period I to IV inclusive were caused by emotional shocks awakened by a common factor in closely associated situations. In period IV the A personality had no amnesia for personality B. This amnesia developed in period V.