Final answer:
Dissociative disorders are a general category of psychological disorders characterized by disruptions in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception.
Step-by-step explanation:
The general category of psychological disorders that is characterized by a disruption in one's consciousness, memory, identity, or perception is called dissociative disorders. Dissociative disorders involve a disconnection or separation of different aspects of a person's functioning, such as memory, identity, or perception. This can result in symptoms like amnesia, depersonalization, or derealization.
For example, dissociative amnesia is a type of dissociative disorder where a person experiences memory loss that is not due to a medical condition or substance use. They may forget important personal information or traumatic events.
Another example is dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder. This is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states that take control of the individual's behavior.