Dissociative symptoms can develop for various reasons and do not necessarily have to be pathological. The etiology of pathological dissociation and dissociative disorders typically involves a complex interplay of genetic and neurobiological vulnerabilities, temperamental predispositions, and environmental stressors, including psychological stress and trauma as well as socio-cognitive and cultural factors. Individuals with dissociative disorders report more traumatic life experiences, including child abuse and neglect. Poor stress tolerance, problems in emotion regulation, negative self-concepts, and identity disturbances may contribute to the persistence of dissociation. People with dissociative disorders often have limited awareness of their emotions and current needs, are more prone to supress emotions, and show altered self-referential processing. Deeply rooted schemas and maladaptive core beliefs may increase affective instability and interpersonal sensitivity. For some people, dissociation may be a learned strategy to cope with overwhelming experiences. However, sleep disturbances, physical exhaustion, substance use, and sensory overload can also trigger dissociation. Dissociative symptoms were further linked to neuropsychological deficits and alterations in brain networks implicated in cognitive and emotional processing. The development of chronic dissociative experiences is therefore complex and varies from person to person, depending on biopsychosocial and cultural background, co-occurring physical and mental health problems, and available support systems.