Multiplicity (psychology)

Multiplicity or plurality is the psychological phenomenon in which a body can feature multiple distinct or overlapping consciousnesses, each with its own degree of individuality.[1] This phenomenon can feature in identity disturbance, dissociative identity disorder, and other specified dissociative disorders. Some individuals describe their experience of plurality as a form of neurodiversity rather than something that demands a diagnosis.[1][2][3][4] There are a number of ways that the phenomenon is conceptualized and discussed among members of associated online subcultures, including dissociative disorders and spiritual and cultural practices such as tulpamancy. Among members of these subcultures, distinct consciousnesses are often termed "headmates", "alters", "parts", or "selves", with terms for a group of alters including "system", "collective", and others.[1][5] One who does not experience plurality is typically called a "singlet".[1][2][4]

In personality research, plurality can also be referred to as a personality style defined as "an individual's relatively consistent inclinations and preferences across contexts".[6]

It has been said by journalists and experts in psychology that plurality is significantly under-researched and often misrepresented in the media.[5]

History

Concepts similar to multiplicity have existed throughout history.[2] This has been extended to concepts such as tulpamancy. Additionally, some individuals throughout history have stated that they had been taken over by a spirit, soul, or ghost.[2][7]

Science writer Rita Carter says that Italian psychologist Roberto Assagioli developed psychosynthesis, and hypothesized that an individual may not be consciously aware of their many personae.[7] American psychologist John G. Watkins used hypnosis to bring out different personalities.[7]

In modern times

Communities of individuals who identify as "systems" of multiple distinct personalities, often called "headmates" or "alters" or similar terms,[3][5] have emerged as recently as the 1980s.[2] Alters often have different names, ages, genders, sexualities, and mental appearances from both one another and from their body.[5]

More recently, communities of systems have formed online both through independent information sites such as Astraea's Web and social media sites such as TikTok.[2][8] Though the exact terminology used varies, some common nomenclature has been coined by systems describing their experiences, including "fronting" (when a given alters or alter assumes control of their body) "switching," (when alters change places in the "front") and "headspace" (an "inner world" which systems describe as a mental space where alters interact with each other).[1][2][3][8]

Plurality in personality research

Stephen Braude and Rita Carter use a different definition of personality style, defining "personality style" as "personality" and proposing that a person may have multiple selves and not have any relatively consistent inclinations and preferences in personality. This may happen as an adaptation to a change of environment and role within a person's life and may be consciously adopted or encouraged, in a similar way to acting or role-playing.[9] For example, a woman may adopt a kind, nurturing personality when dealing with her children but change to a more aggressive, forceful personality when going to work as a high-flying executive as her responsibilities change.[7]

See also

References
  1. Ribáry, Gergő; Lajtai, László; Demetrovics, Zsolt; Maraz, Aniko (2017-06-13). "Multiplicity: An Explorative Interview Study on Personal Experiences of People with Multiple Selves". Frontiers in Psychology. 8: 938. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00938. ISSN 1664-1078. PMC 5468408. PMID 28659840.
  2. Telfer, Tori (2015-05-11). "Are Multiple Personalities Always a Disorder?". Vice. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
  3. Riesman, Abraham (2019-03-29). "The Best Cartoonist You've Never Read Is Eight Different People". Vulture. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  4. Schechter, Elizabeth. "What we can learn about respect and identity from 'plurals'". Aeon. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  5. Parry, Sarah; Eve, Zarah; Myers, Gemma (2022-07-21). "Exploring the Utility and Personal Relevance of Co-Produced Multiplicity Resources with Young People". Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma. 15 (2): 427–439. doi:10.1007/s40653-021-00377-7. ISSN 1936-1521. PMC 9120276. PMID 35600531.
  6. Eriksen, Karen & Kress, Victoria E. (2005). "A Developmental, Constructivist Model for Ethical Assessment (Which Includes Diagnosis, of Course)". Beyond the DSM Story: Ethical Quandaries, Challenges, and Best Practices . Thousand Oaks, CA: Page Publications. ISBN 0-7619-3032-9
  7. Carter, Rita (March 2008). Multiplicity: The New Science of Personality, Identity, and the Self. Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316115384.
  8. Lucas, Jessica. "Inside TikTok's booming dissociative identity disorder community". Input. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  9. Stephen E. Braude (1995), First Person Plural: Multiple Personality and the Philosophy of Mind, Rowman & Littlefield, p. 86, ISBN 9780847679966

Further reading
  • Ian Hacking (2000). What's Normal?: Narratives of Mental & Emotional Disorders. Kent State University Press. pp. 39–54. ISBN 9780873386531.
  • Jennifer Radden (2011). "Multiple Selves". The Oxford Handbook of the Self. Oxford Handbooks Online. pp. 547 et seq. ISBN 9780199548019.
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