This book takes a deeper look into the darker side of the human condition by examining the psyches of those who have been victims or survivors of heinous acts perpetrated by others. Since the traditional models of the mind fall short when dealing with extraordinary people under ordinary conditions as well as with ordinary people under extraordinary conditions, a special model of the traumatized mind is evolved to further our understanding of such dark matters. This metapsychology is organized around the defensive operations of repression or splitting. In the model proposed here, defensive altered states of consciousness, or dissociation seems more helpful. A historical perspective is offered, from Freud and Breuer, with their studies on hysteria, to current thinking about dissociative disorders. A developmental line of dissociation is also offered. Extensive case material is presented to illustrate theoretical as well as the technical challenges of working with the lapses of memory, unbearable affects, and countertransference demands upon the clinician.