Last update: 26/09/19
Plurality is an identity framework for any that have a more-than-one experience. Identifying as plural is a personal choice with no bar of entry. It is not a clinical term.
Many that identify as plural call their group a system, but not all.
More than one?
It is intentionally vague and inclusive for many reasons. A major one is due to the negative history of the medical community surrounding DID.
It's an experience that can not be described as being one single individual in a single body.
Plurality is not...
- A dissociative disorder (such as DID or OSDD)
- A form of neurodivergence (but studies on various groups that do identify as plural have been shown to have a form of neurodivergence relating to it)
- Multiplicty (the two terms are often used interchangeably, however)
...But it is often used as an umbrella term that includes the above.
Who identifies as plural?
- Many diagnosed with a dissociative disorder such as DID or OSDD
- Many that meet the requirements for a dissociative disorder diagnosis but aren't diagnosed
- Many with thoughtforms such as (the western definition of) tulpas
- Many that feel like 1.3 or so of a person instead of one whole (median)
- Many that can hear or sense others, with or without loosing control
- Many that don't hear voices, but feel their sense of self change in a notable way
- Many that have experienced Internal Family Systems therapy
Many, but not all. To identify as plural is a personal choice.
How to address plurals
There is no one right answer. Some prefer to be addressed exclusively as individuals, while others prefer to be addressed collectively. Some prefer the term headmate over the clinical term alter. Some prefer the term collective over system. If in doubt: Ask.
Plural Resources
Definitions
Guides
- What Is Plurality?
- Being Many
- More Than One
- Healthy Multiplicity
- A System's Guide
- Dragon's Roost: Plural Zone
- A Singlet's Guide to Plurality
- Writing Plurals
- Multiplicity: The Missing Manual (Uses old terminology)
Questioning
- am i plural?: Various resources [possible cognito hazard]
- Plural Questioning Resource
- How Do I Know If I'm Plural?
- Letters: Am I Plural?
- Plurality is not Absolute
Tools
- Utter: A chat tool for system communication
- Sable, a Matrix client with plural support
- Pronoun profiles
- System mapping with Twine
- Switchy Minecraft mod
- SysChat
- Fediverse plurality support
Link Lists
Studies
Related Resources
Dissociative Disorders
- Separating Fact from Fiction: An Empirical Examination of Six Myths About Dissociative Identity Disorder
- Trauma Dissociative
- What are the Dissociative Disorders?
- DID Research (the following links are also sourced from here)
- DID myths
- DID Basics
- DID Versus OSDD-1
- Glossary
- The Theory of Structural Dissociation
Internal Family Systems
A form of non-pathologizing therapy that can be performed without a therapist. Most of the information on parts work is in books. For a solid book on the process, read: No Bad Parts - Richard C. Schwartz
- Wikipedia page
- Basics of IFS
- Modifying IFS for Plurals
- Getting to Know Your Parts
- Inner Child work
- Parts Work
Thoughtforms
Various varieties of intentionally formed plurality. Willogenic and parogenic are umbrella terms for thoughtforms.