Multiplicity (psychology)
Multiplicity, also known as plurality or polypsychism, is the broad psychological phenomenon in which a body can feature multiple personalities.[1][2] In contrast to dissociative identity disorder, the more general phenomenon of identifying as multiple is under-researched.[3]
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".[4]
History[edit]
The ancient Egyptian view of selfhood was very different than the modern Western one, and has been described as polypsychic; texts from the era describe the akh (soul) as being composed of eight parts. [5]
The concept of multiplicity in modern times began with 19th century mesmerist[6] who were bewildered by the fact that when they induced magnetic sleep in a person, a new life emerged of which the subject was unaware existed, with some even claiming that this new personality could live a continuous life of its own. This caused the creation of the concept of dipsychism, the idea that the human mind exhibits duality.[6][7] Dipsychism later evolved into polypsychism, the idea that the human mind was a cluster of subpersonalities which was coined by magnetizer Durand de gros.[8] Polypsyphiscm would continue to play a part in psychology with various people creating their own theories – including Carl Jung, who switched from a dipsychic model to polypsychic model during his lifetime.[8][9]
Plurality in personality research[edit]
Stephen E. 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.[10] 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.[11]
Playing video games has been cited as a context in which people entertain multiplicity.[12]
See also[edit]
- Demonic possession § Medicine and psychology
- Hypostatic model of personality
- Personality style
- Subpersonality
References[edit]
- ↑ cooper, mick (1996). "MODES OF EXISTENCE: TOWARDS A PHENOMENOLOGICAL POLYPSYCHISM" (PDF). Journal of the Society for Existential Analysis. 7 (2): 1.
- ↑ Rowan, John, ed. (1999). The plural self: multiplicity in everyday life (1. publ ed.). London: Sage Publ. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-7619-6076-8. Search this book on
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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 Search this book on .
- ↑ "Ancient Concepts of the Mind, Brain (and Soul)".
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Rowan, John (2009). Personification Using the Dialogical Self in Psychotherapy and Counselling. Taylor & Francis. p. 62. ISBN 9781135151676. Search this book on
- ↑ Ellenberger, Henri (1989). The Discovery Of The Unconscious: The History And Evolution Of Dynamic Psychiatry. Basic Books. p. 145. ISBN 0465016731. Search this book on
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Ellenberger, Henri (1981). The Discovery Of The Unconscious: The History And Evolution Of Dynamic Psychiatry. Basic Books. p. 146. ISBN 0465016731. Search this book on
- ↑ Stiles, Cara (2017-03-22). "The Interface of Carl Jung and Dissociative Identity Disorder: From Autonomous Complex to Personality". Journal of Heart Centered Therapies. 20 (1): 3–23.
- ↑ Stephen E. Braude (1995), First Person Plural: Multiple Personality and the Philosophy of Mind, Rowman & Littlefield, p. 86, ISBN 9780847679966
- ↑ Carter, Rita (March 2008). Multiplicity: The New Science of Personality, Identity, and the Self. Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316115384. Search this book on
- ↑ "Multiplicity and Identity Mitigation in Video Games | Nightmare Mode [Archived]". Retrieved 2023-07-02.
Further reading[edit]
- Ian Hacking (2000). What's Normal?: Narratives of Mental & Emotional Disorders. Kent State University Press. pp. 39–54. ISBN 9780873386531. Search this book on
- Jennifer Radden (2011). "Multiple Selves". The Oxford Handbook of the Self. Oxford Handbooks Online. pp. 547 et seq. ISBN 9780199548019. Search this book on
External links[edit]
- MoreThanOne.info, an information page on plurality
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