A coping strategy often used by survivors of abuse and trauma. There are various forms of dissociations ranging from mild to severe, and may occur consciously (being aware of it happening) or unconsciously (not realizing that it is occurring). When a survivor experiences dissociation, the remembered event of the sexual assault or trauma may be devoid of meaning or feelings or may be remembered only in fragments. It allows for the disengagement of the event from the survivor’s conscious mind. Severe dissociation can lead to dissociative identity disorders.