Multiplicity.
- A condition where multiple people share one body. Also known as "plurality".
Systems.
- A collection of people residing within the body..
- There are many different kinds of systems, with their own terms, origins, and (sometimes) different ways of functioning.
- People residing in systems are sometimes called systemmates, system members, or headmates.
Forms of Systems.
- Multiplicity can be caused by trauma.
- This is commonly known as "traumagenic multiplicity".
- One form of traumagenic multiplicity is Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly called Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). The current theory explaining DID is that trauma prevents a child from forming a unified identity, opposing the previous thought that DID is caused by one identity splitting into multiple identities.
- A system doesn't have to have DID to be traumagenic.
- Multiplicity can also occur without trauma.
- This us commonly known as "endogenic multiplicity".
- Some endogenic systems state that they've been multiple since birth. Some state that their system "just happened".
- This us commonly known as "endogenic multiplicity".
- Multiplicity can also have unknown, or mixed origins.
- Some systems with unknown origins use the term "quoigenic multiplicity".
- Some systems identify as "mixed systems". This means that some system members were caused by trauma, and others were not.
- Another type of system is called "median."
- Median systems exist somewhere on the spectrum of being non-multiple (singlet), and multiple. This can remain static, or change either direction.
- While traumagenic systems are usually associated with amnesia and dissociation, non-traumagenic systems can also experience these symptoms. This is especially true for non-traumagenic systems that have experienced trauma, and/or have other conditions like PTSD. Similarly, not all traumagenic systems experience amnesia or other symptoms typically associated with DID.
Types of System Members.
- Some system members feel that their existence is medical, or psychological. They identify as being neurally-generated and state that outside of the body's brain, they didn't or wouldn't have existed.
- Some system members feel that their existence is spiritual, and that they existed in worlds or lives prior to being part of a system.
- Some systems are mixed and have differing opinions on this.
- There are three main "kinds" of system members.
- "Insourced" system members are people who don't have a recorded, pre-existing origin in the outside world.
- "Outsourced" system members are people who exist in this world in the form of fictional characters. For example, Harry Potter.
- Also called fictional introjects (a more DID-specific term), or fictives. The authors writing this sometimes use the term "exogenic", also, meaning existing/forming from outside sources (without the connotation of "fictional"/fake).
- "Factives" are system members who identify as people who exist in this world, living or dead. For example, George Washington.
- System members within traumagenic, especially DID-based systems, tend to be called "alters". Alters often have specific functions, such as "inner helper", "protector", "prosecutor", etc. It varies by system.
- System members can be "normal" humans (of varying age), but they can also be earthly animals (such as cats or dogs), mythological creatures (such as dragons, shapeshifters, or demons), or even typically inanimate objects (such as trees).
Common Terms.
- "Front": The body, where a system member experiences the outside world.
- "Fronting": When a system member is controlling the body.
- "Co-fronting": When a system member is sharing front with one or more other system members.
- "Switching": When one system members leaves front, and is replaced by another.
- "Age Sliding": When a system member's age changes. This is usually a temporary experience, and often a response to stress.
- "Host"/"Core"/"Original": A term usually used to refer to the first person who existed in the system, but can also be used to indicate the system member who is "in charge".
- "Host" is sometimes seen as distasteful, as it's also a term used in science for something infested with parasites.
- "Singlet": Someone who is not multiple/plural.
- "Inworld"/"Inner World": The mental space where system members live and interact away from front. It can be as small as a single room, or as large as an entire planet. Not all systems have an inworld.
Related Blogs.
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