Plurality and Fandom

Synonyms:	multiplicity, systems
See also:	bodysharing, soulbonding
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Plurality (also known as multiplicity) is the state of multiple consciousnesses or personalities existing within a single body. This is most commonly found in cases of dissociative identity disorder, but can also occur within certain spiritual contexts, such as the tulpamancer community. It is related to, but distinct, from bodysharing, a story trope that involves fictional scenarios such as possession.

Terminology and Disambiguation

• Alter/Headmate/(Dissociative) Part/System Member: an individual personality or consciousness in a plural system. In most cases, they will have their own name, pronouns, gender identity, and/or personality that is different from that of other system members.
• Co-front: can describe multiple system members working together to control the physical body and communicate with the outside world, or a system member "sitting in the passenger's seat", so to speak, while a different system member fronts.
• Core: a system member who has been present since birth, or the "original" person present. This term is somewhat disputed, and it should never be assumed that a given system has one; if they do, it is considered rude to treat them as the only "real" system member, or to ask other system members to go away so the core can front.
• Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID; previously Multiple Personality Disorder or Split Personality Disorder): a dissociative disorder characterized by the presence of multiple distinct identities, consciousnesses, or personalities. Some with DID consider themselves to be plural or multiple, and some do not.
• Endogenic: a system not formed from trauma; alternatively, a system without DID or OSDD. Some endogenic systems may have trauma, but do not consider their plurality to be trauma-based. Others may consider their plurality partially trauma-based, but not entirely. There is discourse surrounding the validity of endogenic systems.
• Headspace/Inner world: a perceived mental world. Not all systems have one. In those that do, system members are often able to interact with each other in the inner world. System members commonly have an "internal" appearance in the inner world which may not always match the physical body. An inner world may be expansive or small, and does not have to conform to the rules of physical reality. Comparable to but not the same as astral projection or Reality Shifting.
• Host: the system member who fronts the majority of the time, or is considered the "main" one. This may or may not be the core, in systems that have one. Not all systems consider themselves to have a host, and may view themselves as a group of equal individuals who share a body.
• Factive: an introject who is based on a real person.
• Fictive: an introject who is based on a fictional character.
• Front(ing): to have control of the body or be able to communicate with the outside world.
• Fusion: the merging of multiple system members. The merging of all system members is called final fusion.
• Integration: the therapeutic lowering of barriers and building of communication to allow collective functioning. This word is also commonly used with the same meaning as "fusion." Integration can lead to fusion or make achieving fusion easier.
• Introject(ed): a system member who is subconsciously based on or takes the internal appearance of an external concept or being, often a real person or fictional character.
• Little: a system member who presents internally as a child. They may or may not have the same mental capacity and maturity as other system members. Littles in traumagenic systems often experience more severe trauma responses than other system members and may remember traumatic events that others do not.
• Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD; previously Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified): A collection of disorders similar to DID. Some forms of OSDD experience multiple identities, while others do not. Like DID, those with OSDD may or may not consider themselves plural or multiple.
• Pseudomemory/Exomemory: memories experienced by system members which did not actually happen to the physical body.
• Singlet: someone who does not experience plurality.
• Source: commonly used as a catchall term to refer to the character, person, or other concept that an introject is based on or takes the appearance of. If their source is a character or celebrity, "source" may also refer to the media that the source character is from.
• Split(ting): Not to be confused with splitting in BPD. Splitting in a plural context is the process of a new system member forming, and is usually in response to stress or trauma. When a split produces an introject, this is called "introjection."
• Switch: a change in who is fronting.
• System/Collective: A group of system members who share one body, or a way to refer to their collective identity.
• Traumagenic: a system formed from trauma; alternatively, a system with DID or OSDD.

Note: Pseudomemory is the preferred term for disordered or traumagenic systems, while exomemory is more popular with spiritual and non-disordered systems. The main difference in usage whether the system or system member in question considers the memory to be a creation of the mind (pseudomemory) or to have come from somewhere else, such as a past life (exomemory).

On introjects

To avoid confusion:

• Introjects are separate from Fictionkin/Factkin, in that introjects do not necessarily identify as their source, even if they use the same name or pronouns, or use their source as a profile picture.
• Introjects are separate from Roleplay characters, in that they are real people and not an acted-out persona, even if they act or speak similarly to their source's Canon or Fanon.
• Introjects are separate from Delusional Attachments., in that introjects do not usually believe that they are their source.
• Tulpas and Soulbonds are, essentially, purposely-created introjects. Some endogenic or non-disordered systems may be partially or entirely comprised of tulpas or soulbonds, but most disordered systems do not have them.

Introjects can be or experience any of the above, but this is not inherent, and it should never be assumed.

For more in-depth information

Traumagenic and endogenic systems, or disordered and non-disordered systems, will sometimes have different experiences with plurality.

For information on general and non-disordered plurality, see The Plural Association and/or Multiplicity and Plurality Wiki.

For information strictly on Dissociative Identity Disorder and Other Specified Dissociative Disorder, see Wikipedia, the National Library of Medicine, and/or the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation.

Plural Fans

Notable Examples

Since anyone can participate in Fandom, some Fans do or have claimed to experience plurality.

• Andrew Blake, who claimed to have dissociative identity disorder in a conversation with carlanime.
• Panopticon, who have dissociative identity disorder.
• LB Lee, who is multiple.

Harassment

In cases of Harassment, cyberbullies and trolls often deliberately refer to systems as roleplayers to elicit an emotional reaction. It is most commonly targeted at introjects, who are often called kinnies or delusional as well. Systems are commonly placed in Cringe Compilations, with some dedicated specifically to systems, especially endogenic ones.

Because of the prevalence of this behavior online, many systems may avoid talking about their plurality, avoid talking about their introjects, or avoid participating in fandom.

Introjects

Some systems who participate heavily in Fannish Community may be more prone to splitting introjects, because they are thinking about their favorite characters very often. In this case, introjects can be influenced by Fanfiction, Fanon, or the system's Headcanons. Introjects, due to the nature of being based on an outside source, often have unique experiences in fandom.

Objectification

Introjects may feel especially unwelcome in online fandom spaces. In many cases, introjects who use the same name as their source or who openly identify themselves as introjects may find themselves being treated as if they are their source. This can come in the form of judgement and shaming if the source is a villain or controversial character, being inappropriately sexualized or flirted with if the character is very popular, or receiving unwanted Shipping insinuations (whether this be with another introject or simply a character).

Solidarity with Fictionkin

Some introjects, primarily ones introjected from fictional characters, find solidarity with Fictionkin due to shared experiences. Both introjects and fictionkin find their identities inherently affected by a fictional character, and both commonly experience apparent memories of fictional universes. Introjects who do mingle with fictionkin often find a connection with them through sharing these memories. It is not uncommon for introjects and fictionkin to kindate.

This is much more common in spiritual or non-disordered systems, but not exclusive to them. Many online advocates for disordered and traumagenic systems warn against sharing pseudomemories, as pseudomemories in DID can be connected to real-life trauma.

It is not uncommon for systems who have not yet discovered they are plural or who have not yet been diagnosed to wind up in fictionkin spaces.

Fanworks Inspired By Introjects

A Wally Darling self-ship drawing made by an introject of Skrillien, a popular fanon version of Skrillex as an alien.

Many systems in fandom have expressed that they take inspiration from their introjects or portray their source characters as purposely similar to them. Some friends of systems will adopt traits of introjects they know as Headcanons.

If an introject is the one making creative fanworks, they may use Fanfiction or Fanart as an outlet for exo/pseudomemories. They may also use their source character as a Self-insert or depict other characters from the source material similarly to their exo/pseudomemories of them. One introject writing fanfiction about their source material joked:

"Wow you write this character really well!" Thanks I knew them personally

— gl1tched-g0th, Tumblr post

Introjects who are dating an introject of or Self-Ship with characters from a very different source material from them may also inspire Crack Ships.

Disclaimer

It is important to note that not all introjects are of fictional characters, celebrities, or other subjects of fannish interest. While it is not uncommon, the majority of introjects in disordered systems are of real-life abusers. It should never be assumed that the term "introject" in reference to plurality necessarily means introjects of fictional characters or celebrities. This section is focused on character and celebrity introjects only because they have unique experiences in fandom due to their connection with the source material, which personal-life introjects do not have.

Plurality in Fiction

Canon

Many characters are written as plural, whether explicitly or implicitly, including characters with dissociative identity disorder, who host gods, who are temporarily possessed, who host symbiotes, who have inaccurate schizophrenia, and many more situations.

• Adam Milligan and Michael, who share control of Adam's body during possession, from Supernatural.
• Ash Tyler / Voq, whose memories and DNA were spliced together, from Star Trek: Discovery.
• Bad Cop/Good Cop, who has a split personality, from The LEGO Movie.
• Crazy Jane, who has multiple personality disorder, from Doom Patrol.
• David Haller, who has multiple personality disorder or occasionally "schizophrenia," from X-Men comics and Legion.
• Eddie Brock and Venom, through symbiosis, from Marvel.
• Gemini Cain and Gemini Abel from Saint Seiya, two twin brothers who were born in one body.
• Gemini Saga, who is sometimes controlled by his "evil face," from Saint Seiya.
• Jean Grey, who hosts the spirit The Phoenix, from X-Men.
• Jeritza von Hrym from Fire Emblem: Three Houses, who developed a split personality called the Death Knight after killing his father to protect his sister Mercedes
• Korekiyo Shinguji, who has a split personality, from Dangan Ronpa V3: Killing Harmony.
• Latka Gravas, who has multiple personality disorder, from Taxi.
• Marc Spector, Steven Grant, Jake Lockley, and Khonshu, who have dissociative identity disorder and host a god (Khonshu), from Marvel Comics and Moon Knight.
• Niki Sanders, who has a split personality, from Heroes.
• The Daycare Attendant, which is two characters who share a body, from Five Nights At Freddy's.
• Toko Fukawa, who has an alternate personality named Syo, from Dangan Ronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc.
• Mike, who has six personalities, (including his,) from Total Drama: Revenge of the Island.
• Uendo Toneido, a rakugo performer and a trial witness in Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice.
• Vinegar Doppio/Diavolo from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 5: Vento Aureo, who has Dissociative Identity Disorder.

Headcanons and Fanon

Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples.

Some characters can be interpreted or written as plural despite it being unclear or even explicitly not present in canon.

Examples:

• Eminem, a white rapper with a 'mentally ill' persona, has multiple alter-egos with different outlooks and personalities, which write different types of song and sometimes switch between each other within his compositions. In his writing and videos, he portrays these as voices in his head which he is compelled to channel into his infamously virtuosic raps. However, he sometimes states that his personas are metaphors for the different sides of his own personality rather than separate consciousnesses, similar to models of the mind found in psychodynamic psychotherapy.
• Character Thomas Sanders, who has conversations between parts of his personality, from Sanders Sides.
• Sonny Crockett, who has an undercover persona called Burnett, from Miami Vice.
• Liv Moore, who is a zombie and unintentionally adopts personality traits, hobbies, and even memories from the people she eats, from IZombie.
• The protagonist of Disco Elysium has an internal narration characterised by his Skills, which are all represented as characters with distinct speech patterns that have different -- and sometimes warped -- perspectives on the events and opportunities around him. He also experiences dream sequences in which he is jeered at by different parts of his brain anatomy, which are also represented as characters, and depending on player choice may end up debating in his head with certain articles of his own clothing. It is unclear if this is a metaphor or not, even within the game.

Example Fanworks

The following fanworks have themes of plurality, often non-canon.

Fanfiction

• You, Darkness by Nan Dibble, in which Vincent has multiple personalities (Beauty and the Beast (TV), 1991).
• Heat-Trace by Helen Raven, in which Bodie develops a disassociative disorder with split personality traits (The Professionals, 1992).
• Quintet by Patricia Laurie Stephens, in which Spock has multiple personalities (Star Trek: TOS, 1993).
• No Islands Any More by Betsy Tacy Ray-Kelly, in which Blair has multiple personality disorder (The Sentinel, 1998).
• The Weaknesses Series by Viridian5, in which Mulder has multiple personality disorder (The X-Files, 1998 - 1999).
• To Have, to Own, to Hold by Viridian5, in which Mulder bas multiple personality disorder (The X-Files, 1998 - 1999).
• Enemy Mine by Greywolf the Wanderer, in which Kirk's personality is physically split into two people (Star Trek: TOS, 1999).
• Me, Myself, and I by EmySabath, in which Harry has multiple personality disorder (Harry Potter, 2005).
• Broken Mind, Fractured Soul by SensiblyTainted, in which Harry has multiple personality disorder (Harry Potter, 2005 - 2015).
• Winter Wooer by salytierra, in which Bucky has dissociative identity disorder (Avengers, 2016).
• Loving Them by knicnort3, in which Bella has dissociative identity disorder (Twilight, 2019 - 2020).
• Letter from Hades by Demeter, in which Blair has multiple personality disorder (The Sentinel).
• HimejoshiHeart's Duskverse, whose star character Duskie is Oersted portrayed as a median system of three. (This fic, for example, has Knight (this 'verse's version of the regular Oersted) and Duskie talking at the start of it.) (Live A Live)

Fanart

• my post canon darcy idea by diadraws, in which Darcy is an alter of Marcy Wu (Amphibia)

Meta

• Vincent Revisited, which discusses the interpretation of Vincent as having a dual personality (Beauty and the Beast (TV), 1992).

Recommendations

• Recs for good fics featuring DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder)?, r/Fanfiction post by Gabriella_Gadfly (2021).
• plural works that don't make us squirm, AO3 collection by SOBQJMV_Sphinx (2021 - 2022).

Miscellaneous

• 50% OFF by Octopimp, an abridged series in which Haruka Nanase has multiple personalities (Free!, 2013 - 2016).