a guide to terms used in the plural community

Instructions

PLLEAAASE DO NOT START SYSCOURSE I WILL CRY LIKE A LITTLE GOO GOO GA GA BABY anyway these are terms that you should probably know if you're in a space with a lot of systems (like the gaehive)/friends with a system. if you're interested about a specific term ask me! i'm more than happy to educate people. these are NOT all the terms in the plural community but they are common ones that will be helpful Alter: a member of a system. also called headmates. Same thing Amnesia barriers: alters may not be able to remember things other alters do. those are amnesia barriers. their presence can vary between systems, some not having any, and can vary between alters too. Blurry: when it is unclear who is fronting due to dissociation or many alters fronting Co fronting: when two or more alters are fronting at once Core: the original. The alter that was "born with" the body, and the one that was here before any form of plurality. These can be the host, but it is possible for a core to not be the host. Disordered/non disordered: A system that does/does not have a diagnosis of OSDD, DID, UDD, etc. This has nothing to do with a system being "real" or not as diagnoses are EXTREMELY hard to get and some may not want a diagnosis. Endogenic: An umbrella term for any system forming without trauma. Front/fronting: When an alter/host is in control of the body. Frontstuck: When an alter/host cannot leave front. Headspace/innerworld: where the alters "live," sort of like a little world. Host: the alter that deals with most day-to-day stuff, most common fronter. Introject: an alter from a fictional source (fictives) or a real thing/person (factives). They don't always act like they do in their source, but may. Little: a child alter. May act like a child, often does. Usually under 12. Protector: an alter that protects the system or body from real or imagined danger. Split: when a new alter forms, "splitting off" from another member. Switch: when one member leaves front and another takes over. Marked by dissociation, and can vary in length. Syscourse: discourse relating to plurality, often regarding the validity of systems/if an x system is real. System collapse: when a system loses most if not all of its members in a very short period of time. Extremely stressful. NOT fusion, which is when all members fuse into one, meaning someone has fully recovered. Traumagenic: an umbrella term for any system forming due to trauma. Trauma holder: a member holding memories of trauma to protect others in the system. Trigger: similar to triggers in PTSD. Cause distress and switches, however some can be positive triggers (like an alter fronting because someone mentioned something they like)