Fugue state - Definition and Overview

A fugue state (also known as a 'psychogenic fugue' or 'dissociative fugue') is a term in psychology which describes a state of mind where a person experiences a dissociative break in identity and attempts to run away from some perceived threat, usually something abstract such as the person's identity. People who enter into a fugue state may disappear, running away to a completely different geographical region and assuming another identity. A bewildered facial expression is a common symptom of the condition that can involve both physical and psychological escape from a stressful environment.

A fugue state is often triggered by stress. The condition often follows interpersonal events in which a person is exposed to rage, threats to their self-esteem and challenges to habitual patterns of impulse control.

Non-psychologists more commonly use the term "fugue state" to refer to the state of mind attained by a gifted musician or athlete where the person attains a high degree of focus and attention to their art or actions. This is also a dissociation from one's surroundings, to concentrate on the work at hand. Other names for the same basic concept include

• “the mental state called flow,” often seen in the context of programming, and
• “being in the zone.”

Fugue states in the media

David Lynch's 1997 film "Lost Highway" is about a man (Fred Madison, played by Bill Pullman) undergoing a fugue experience. The same director's 2001 film "Mulholland Dr." also deals with a character in a psychogenic fugue.

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