#plural education

[narcissism-positivity]

What's the anthropological evidence for endogenic plurality? (I already believe it exists btw I just like research.)

Hi! Sorry it took me so long to respond, but I’m always seriously thrilled to get to stretch my anthropologist bones.

The anthropological evidence lies in experiences of multiplicity throughout the world! Historically, this has usually taken the form of some type of belief in possession and/or trance state.

One of the earliest publications noting possessive states across a large variety of cultures was TK Oesterrich’s Die Besessenheit (1921), which you can read on the internet archive translated into English here. (Note: contains very racist, degrading language)

There are even works on autopsies performed in order to seek out physical evidence of the “witches” possessing people (Evans-Pritchard, 1937).

Most notably, the work of anthropologist Erika Eichorn Bourguignon delves deep into the world of ritually sanctioned dissociation, trance, and possession, especially among Haitian people. She notes that culturally accepted dissociation in the form of multiplicity “provides the self with an alternate set of roles… in which unfulfilled desires, ‘unrealistic’ in the context of the workaday world, get a second chance at fulfillment” (Bourguignon, Spirit Possession, 57).

She explicitly outlines the non-traumagenic nature of possession trance, noting this perfectly normalized form of plurality as “based on a conception of the human person as consisting of multiple separate elements, body and soul (or multiple souls)” and notes that multiplicity often empowers the individual. (A Companion to Psychological Anthropology, 376).

Just a few of the many cultures that have observed endogenic plurality in the past and/or currently are the Azande people of Africa, the Havasupai of North America, the Jivaro of South America, Jewish folk practitioners especially in Eastern Europe and Ethiopia… and of course, the most well-known examples of possession in the western world come from Christianity.

TLDR Denying the existence of endogenic systems is fundamentally racist, erasing hundreds, if not thousands, of years of evidence of non-traumagenic plurality.

Thanks so much for letting me infodump!

[witch-crip-is-this]

To be anti-endogenic systems is to be, at the most fundamental level, anti-plurality.

And as a traumagenic system who adores my headmates, whose plurality got them through the most dangerous situations time and time again, I just can’t stand with that.

My headmates will always be my closest family. Anyone is allowed to have that.

[pluralprompts]

Prompt #2,219

System A is very aware of their own plurality but not so much of the words for it or that there's a whole community of plurals out there. When they come out to Character B, all their attempts at explaining what's happening get mistaken as metaphor or speaking figuratively, so eventually they drop the subject, and both System A and Character B move on with their lives.

Later on, Character B meets System C, who explains plurality in a way that finally clicks for them – and causes them to realize exactly what System A was trying to tell them.

[butterednuttered]

TERMS FOR NONSPEAKING ALTERS

Voisic (pronounced voy-sick) - An alter who is always capable of speaking

Non-voisic - An alter who is never capable of speaking

Semi-voisic - An alter who is capable of speaking a little bit

Hemi-voisic - An alter who is capable of complete speaking half the time (aka voisic sometimes, non-voisic other times)

Voisicflux - An alter whose ability to speak fluctuates

Choice Voisic - An alter who could speak if they want to but chooses not to.

THESE TERMS ARE FOR TRAUMAGENIC SYSTEMS ONLY! WE ARE ANTI-ENDO.

[wingedcreaturecomics]

An Introduction to Plurality (1/2)

(text: Hi everyone! Quinn here. This comic is going to be the first in a series about plurality, which is a fascinating and extremely misunderstood topic, and one very close to me. So, without further ado... Title text: "What is Plurality?" Plurality is the phenomenon where multiple self-aware entities are housed in one person's brain. It is often conflated or grouped with schizophrenia, but the two are unrelated. This is very important! If someone is plural, it does not imply that they are schizophrenic whatsoever! Not that there's anything wrong with being schizophrenic, though! A person who's plural is called a system, or collective. They often use the pronouns we/they, but of course anyone can have any pronouns, so ask them if you don't already know theirs. You can think of a plural system like a group of roommates. Except instead of an apartment, they have a body. [Panel shows woman with a house inside her. One person is sleeping in a bed, the other reading a book.] Individual members of a system, or headmates, can often communicate with each other by thinking, like an internal telepathy. Others may write letters to their headmates, or make voice recordings. It's simply a matter of what works best for them. They can also take turns being in front -- that is to say, being in control of the main body. This is why a plural individual can seem to "switch personalities" at certain times and seem like a different person. They objectively ARE a different person. In fact, it can be problematic if you DON'T treat your own headmates like real people. [Panel shows headmate crouched, thinking "Am I even real?] They can struggle with emotional issues just like anyone else! If they are denied from expressing themselves, they can exhibit anxiety and depression, which will be felt among the whole system! [Panel shows the host's hand reaching down to the headmate and saying "Yes you are."] Therapy for systems often involves the host talking to their headmates, taking them seriously, and allowing them to have time in front so they can learn about themselves.)

[multiplicity-positivity]

Here’s some positivity for school-based headmates!

Many systems may find that school causes them to form new headmates. Whether it’s to cope with bullying, harsh teachers, or difficult schoolwork, whether it comes from a place of boredom, curiosity, or distress, no matter why school has caused your system to form new headmates, those headmates are a valued and important part of your system! This post goes out to y’all!

📚 Shoutout to headmates who formed to help with school subjects or complete schoolwork or homework!

📝 Shoutout to headmates whose role is to protect their system from bullies or mean teachers!

📓 Shoutout to headmates who voluntarily took over the job of fronting at school!

📚 Shoutout to headmates who front at school, but still struggle with assignments, learning, tests, or other school-based responsibilities!

📝 Shoutout to systems without friends at school whose headmates help each other cope with loneliness and isolation!

📓 Shoutout to headmates who formed to handle school punishments like detention, writing sentences, missed recess, principal office visits, silent lunches, or in school suspension!

📚 Shoutout to introjects who have school based exomemories or exotrauma!

📝 Shoutout to queer, disabled, BIPOC, intersex, and other marginalized systems whose identities made them a target for mistreatment by students and teachers alike!

📓 Shoutout to trauma holders who hold painful memories from school!

📚 Shoutout to systems who are seriously struggling in school, but who have no choice but to go!

📝 Shoutout to systems who are no longer in school, but who still deal with the aftermath of harm and trauma caused to them while they were attending!

📓 Shoutout to headmates who love school and who did everything possible to ensure their system’s academic success!

Regardless of how your system originated or what your education was like, school can be difficult and traumatizing for anyone. If you or another member of your system formed because of or in order to help with school in any way, please know that you are treasured and valued just the way you are. Your worth is not tied to your role, and you will still be wanted and cherished by your system and by the plural community long after you graduate or leave a school setting.

If your system is still attending school, we hope that you all can find the courage and strength to persevere until graduation. Know that struggling in school or requiring other headmates to support you through your education does not make you weak, foolish, or stupid. It’s okay to do whatever it takes to survive and keep your system safe. We care about you, and we are wishing your whole system the very best, both inside and outside the classroom. Thanks so much for reading, and have a great day!

[dhddmods]

Dissociation guide!

After writing our guide to plurality, we figured a guide to dissociation would be helpful too.

(We also recommend reading our regression & executive dysfunction guide, anthro & alterhuman guide, and intersex guide!)

------

Dissociation is an experience where a person disconnects from themself or reality in some shape or form. This typically occurs during/after a traumatic/stressful experience, as a symptom of dissociative disorders (DID, OSDD, DPDR, UDD, PTSD, etc) and attention-disruptive conditions (ADHD, MADD, etc), or as a symptom of a mood disorder (BPD, bipolar disorder, IED, etc), or an anxiety disorder (OCD, social anxiety, etc.)

Dissociation could occur randomly or have specific triggers. It typically occurs as a protective method for the brain to disconnect from a painful situation, or occurs when a person is flooded with intense repressed memories and flashbacks (such as with PTSD.) It can also be induced through sleep deprivation, hypnosis, meditation, or specific drugs.

Dissociation comes in multiple forms. These forms can overlap (ie; immersive daydreaming + identity confusion).

Dissociative types include the following:

-Dissociative Trance: a form of dissociation in which a person "zones out" to an extreme extent. They do not respond to things happening around them, and may be sitting still or moving around. Their eyes can be open or closed. -Autopilot: a form of dissociation similar to a dissociative trance, however they do respond to the things around them. They move around and act out things that they subconsciously know how to do (ie; cleaning dishes), and can conversate with people talking to them. Their responses may be clear and coherent, or their responses could be slurred, nonsensical, or slow. They might have efficient physical control, or they might act uncoordinated. They may or may not remember what happened after the autopilot is over. -Depersonalization: a form of dissociation where a person feels disconnected from their own body/self, and may not view themself as a real person, or may view themself as a stranger. It might feel like controlling a video game character, or watching a TV show. This could be an in-body experience or an out-of-body experience, where they observing themself from a 3rd person POV. -Derealization: a form of dissociation where a person feels as though the world around them is fake, dreamlike, or foggy. They feel real, but the world/people around them do not.

-Immersive Daydreaming: a form of dissociation where a person enters a daydreaming state, which is more extreme than typical daydreaming. It feels like truly entering another universe, and the real world genuinely feels as though it slips away. A person may be doing tasks while daydreaming (autopilot) or zoning out (trance). Unlike typical daydreaming, it is usually not easy to break an immersive daydreamer out of their daydreams, and they can get "lost", and might even begin acting out what they see in their daydreams in real life (speaking the dialogue, walking around in the same way, etc.) Some immersive daydreamers are able to re-enter a previous daydream in the future, in the same way a system headspace works. If an immersive daydreamer has one of these headspaces, it is known as a Paracosm. If a paracosm has characters within it, they are known as Paras. Immersive daydreaming exists for all people with MADD, and is common amongst people with ADHD, autism, and similar conditions. -Dissociative Amnesia: a form of dissociation, when a person experiences memory loss or blurry memories after an event. Unlike autopilot, they were not dissociating mid-event, and only felt any signs of dissociation after the event was complete. Usually this is a smaller scale (such as forgetting two hours of time), however long-periods can be forgotten as well. In extreme cases, they may forget large portions of their life, and not remember essential details (name, age, location, etc.) Lost memories, in both small and large scale cases, can be revived with time or psychological help. This is common amongst PTSD, DID, OSDD-1a, OSDD 2, and OSDD 3. -Identity Alteration: a form of dissociation where a person's identity (gender, attraction, name, skills, mannerisms, personality, etc) shift for an episode of time, however when that episode is over, the person does not recall the shift happening. Even though they do not remember the shift happening, they might retain skills learned while shifted (for example, suddenly having better art skills, but not remembering how they learned it.) These episodes could last for a short or long period of time, and might be confused as dissociative amnesia or autopilot. For example, a person with a mood disorder who has a huge mood-swing episode (ie; suddenly becoming enraged and destroying household items), but once it is over, cannot remember it happening. Another example is a LITERAL shift in identity; plurality with amnesia barriers, where the person that switched either did not have access to the innerworld, or no innerworld exists, and so the next thing they know, several hours have passed and people are accusing them of saying/doing things they did not do. -Identity Confusion: a form of dissociation where a person has episodes where their identity feels blurry or inconsistent. For example, a person who is partially age regressed, and cannot properly recall their age, and keeps going back and forth between acting childlike and like an adult. Another example would be two (or more) sysmates who are blending in an unstable way, and cannot properly identify who they are or what is happening.

[godly-rambles]

this isnt what i normally post but it's important to me that i say this

before you block me, please just hear me out

it scares me how much of alterhuman tumblr (and alterhumans in general) support(s) endogenic systems

systems are people who experienced severe repeated trauma before the age of nine. by removing the trauma factor its impossible to form alters.

before you turn nine, every emotion is a different state of self. (thank you @/quoigenicfromhell for helping me to understand this bit better) essentially you are a different person when you're hungry, happy, sad, scared, etc. when you experience such severe trauma that your body decides it's unsafe for your personalities to merge, THATS when you become a system.

Severe Repeated Childhood Trauma.

that is how systems form, thats literally how it works. the trauma factor is what makes the system a system

i wouldnt say im anti-endogenic, more like i'm endogenic cautious.

again i am all for hearing people out, please tell me your thoughts in the reblogs or comments, but this is just my personal take on it.

i wish no harm to people who identify as endogenic, live however you want to live.

this is how I've interpreted the topic as someone who isn't really qualified to have a take on it, i just wanted to share some of my thoughts.

UPDATE: I've read through the reblogs and comments on my take, and I still dont fully understand the identity itself, but it makes more sense now. Thank you to everyone who helped to explain it, I appreciate your help

I see everyone in the reblogs/comments talking about how being an endogenic system doubles as being alterhuman, but I really don't understand how that could be the case. If anyone's willing to explain it further please do

[yellow-computer-mouse]

So uh you don't have to answer this if you don't want to but how would one know if they're a system and maybe how did you find out you were one?

Oh, we love questions about plurality!

Syscovery and plurality is very different for everyone, but here's how it worked for us! We'll be saying Oscar and using past-tense, as most of us weren't around then. He was the core (the "original"), and is still around sometimes! :)

Oscar had just kinfirmed Captain Curly (Mouthwashing). He started noticing that he'd have very strong personality shifts, but he wrote them off as kinshifts. He kinfirmed Jimmy (Mouthwashing) as well, but realized that he was in an almost-constant shift, and he could "talk" to Curly. They each had their own tastes in music, favorite colors, ideas for how the blog (@tulpar-transmissions) should look, etcetera.

He asked some of his plural friends, and they directed him to median systems. Shortly after this, he realized he was in fact plural, and then Oscar disappeared. Jimmy took over fronting, and they were the Tulpar System (Jimmy, Grant, Daisuke, Anya, Poseidon, Dust, "Nightmare" (is a system of their own), and Reaper).

A bunch of stuff has happened since then, we're much more individual now (and have a MUCH higher headcount), but that was it! Thank you so much for asking, and feel free to send in more questions! :)

[ID: A banner with an image of Polites that reads "This post was made by Polites! Pronouns - he/him. Anti-Endos + proshippers DNI!" It is green/brown, with a background image of a forest. End ID]

[plurapony]

Inner Worlds! A comprehensive guide and exploration!!!

The headspace, the inner world, what actually is it? Do people with DID actually have another world inside their minds?

Well, yes and no! It's a visualization technique and anyone can do it!! With people who have DID it's just a collaborative imagination! It is really important as it can be a very good way to decrease dissociation barriers and increase communication between parts! Sometimes it's easier to imagine yourself sitting down at a table with your parts to discuss something, rather than talking to unknown voices in a huge vacuum of space!

It's also something that can be used for escapism. Have you ever heard the phrase "go to your happy place"? That's what an inner world is! A happy place inside your mind where you know is always safe. Some people have a rather developed headspace because it's where they go often to escape from inescapable trauma. Remember!!!! If there is a rhyme, there is a reason! You should never judge anyone for how their disorder presents - you never know the full story on the internet!!!!

Some people have an inability to visualize but worry not! If you're someone who can't visualize you can still have an inner world you just need to get a little creative!! We personally cannot visualize much but that never stops us!

This is what the main area of our inner world looks like!!! Inside it is three areas, the main space, the space for littles and those who need extra tlc and the gateway to the outside world!!! There are also many more islands in the vacuum of space that is our mind which represent different subsystems but that's something we need to work on creating!

If you can't visualize, use tools! Create a Pinterest board! Draw! Edit photos!! There's so many options and everyone is capable of creating a comprehensive inner world if they choose to do so.

[armydreamersys]

We don't like engaging in syscourse but we saw what sum systems have done and it's made me angry.

If you have an opinion on a system origin, just state ur opinion. Just say it. If u want to spread information on that thing, make posts, share them, something. Try to be informational if you care that much.

Pretending to be a system origin to bait people? Doesn't help anyone. It's the stupidest fucking thing to do on the planet and just makes disinformation worse, actually. Shocker.

Idc what ur stance is on whatever system origin. If you care about people being informed and educated, playing pretend and misleading people for funsies and for laughs is not the way to do it.

Jfc.

-🖖🏽

[sophieinwonderland]

I started following you because I had a plural student but I've stayed because every time you hit back on one of the attacks I feel like I gain more insight. I don't teach the student anymore but I wanted to thank you for the help you provided

Thanks!

And can I just tell you what an awesome teacher you are! 💖

Being a teacher is already pretty hard, and I don't think that most teachers, on hearing that they had a plural student, would go so far out of their way to research and learn more about plurality to understand them better! That's not to disparage other teachers. It's just that it's one of the most difficult and thankless jobs out there, And I know how much of a struggle it can be at times.

So spending your free time trying to learn more to better your understanding... I think that's really incredible!

[pluralprompts]

Prompt #1,347

In a world where plurality is common knowledge, Person A has a required class session learning about it.

[butterednuttered]

INTROJECT TERMS WE HAVE COINED (WITHOUT USING "TIVE")

for starters, ive seen people use fictroject and factroject to avoid using fictive and factive because of their ties to endos, so do as you will with that.

the rest is all my stuff :D

MUSIJECT: An introject sourced from music-- whether that's a song, album, genre, lyric or anything else pertaining to music

AESTHEJECT: An introject sourced from an aesthetic of some sort

COLOJECT: An introject sourced from a color / an alter whos identity is based around a specific color

ARTROJECT: An introject sourced from a physical piece of art, like a painting, drawing, sculpture, wood carving, etc.

GAMTROJECT: An introject sourced from a game-- video game, board game, card game, etc.

STORTROJECT: An introject sourced from a story. This story could be verbal or written. The story could be a fairytale, manga, retelling of a real event.

PLATROJECT: An introject sourced from a real or fictional place. The place can be as big as a planet to as small as small as a room (or even bigger/smaller.)

THESE TERMS ARE FOR TRAUMAGENIC SYSTEMS ONLY!! WE ARE ANTI-ENDO.

[wingedcreaturecomics]

How to Talk to Plurals (1/2)

(description: Girl typing on phone: I'm plural! Mom replies: That's scary. Deirdre: Bzzt! Nope, wrong! Plurality is not scary.

Deirdre: If someone comes out to you as plural, they have put a great amount of trust in you, and your response may have great weight to them. It is imperative that you understand their condition before you make declarative statements about it.

Mom (thinking): That sounds scary... but let's ask what she thinks.

Mom (typing): Oh, really? Tell me more about it!

Girl: I think it's fascinating! / I'm still figuring it out... / It's exciting... but a little scary.

Deirdre: These are examples of ways they may respond depending on their situation. Plurality is a very broad concept, and everyone's case is unique.

Deirdre: For some, it may be scary! In that case, be extra careful not to exacerbate their fear. You hold the power to accept them.

Header: Some good general questions include... "How would you like to be addressed? Do you have new pronouns or names?" / "Are you a plural system? What are the other members of your system like?")

[adaginy]

The Big Guide to Humans: Mating — Reproduction, Sexuality, Genitalia, and Sexual Contact

In its basic unassisted sense, human reproduction requires one male and one female (see sex and gender; it is recommended to read that entry first). Each partner contributes half of the genetic material to create a new human, and that genetic material is roughly half of a copy of their own genes.

A male's internal genitalia produce millions of mobile packets of genetic material in a protein-rich nutrient gel, and the external portion serves as a tool to introduce it deeper into the female's internal genitalia. A female's internal genitalia produce a single packet of genetic material with a starting supply of cell building blocks, and offers a space for the male's mobile packets to meet and fuse with it, a process called fertilization. If this happens, the combined genetic information will latch into the female's circulatory system via the wall of this meeting place, and proceed to grow over the next 3/4 of a year into a human baby (see lifespan and development), enclosed within the female, who will become obviously distended. At the end of this time, her body pushes the completed baby out via the path between the internal and external genitalia. The female's external genitalia serve as a gate to this passage. There is a small window of time in which this fertilization is possible; only a few human sleep cycles. If this time is missed, the meeting place will cease preparations to contain a baby and remove its existing preparations, falling briefly fallow until preparing for a new fertilization window. This process takes approximately 28 human sleep cycles, depending on the female and how she has adapted to the local day/night cycle. The preparations-removal time can be uncomfortable for the female; do not be alarmed if you smell blood. In humans, both male and female external genitalia are also connected to the excretory system.

Humans categorize their within-species sexual attractions as being attracted to the same gender as themselves, a different gender (most common), or multiple genders. For some this may be an absolute barrier to an attraction outside of that category; others may consider themselves certain until they feel an unusual attraction to a particularly compelling potential partner. (It is also possible to have no attraction in this way at all.) This is usually, but not always, the same limitation applied to their romantic attractions; though the exceptions and sometimes-not-at-all applies to those as well. Whether a human requires/prefers romance to be involved with sexual contact varies by individual. See flirting for more on determining a human's romantic and/or sexual attraction. For humans whose attractions extend to other sapients, the "gender" barrier may be ignored, or they may (usually unconsciously) estimate how a non-human would map into the human gender chart and find their attractions limited by this assumption.

The rest of this chapter will assume you and a human have agreed to sexual contact. While this is not intended as a sexual manual, it is within this guide's mission to prevent surprises and ensure safe, successful interactions.

Process:

Human reproductive mating requires inserting the male's external genitalia (penis) through the female's external genitalia (vulva) and into the internal (vagina). However, nearly anything that can safely produce similar physical sensations can be enjoyable, and humans will also use their hands, mouths, and specially designed objects for the pleasure of non-reproductive mating.

The penis hangs relatively soft and small between a male's legs when not in sexual use; arousal will cause it to stiffen, enlarge, and stand approximately perpendicular to the body. It is sexually sensitive along its entire length, but particularly at the distal end, which is rounded and may be a different color. The internal genitalia are in a pouch underneath the penis. The pouch is also sexually sensitive, but delicate. The vulva is a series of skin-folds that reveal the entrance to the vagina when separated. The folds, particularly the inner ones, are sexually sensitive, as is the entrance. Arousal causes slight swelling of this area, and the skin here will produce lubricating fluid; do not attempt insertion of anything until adequately slippery. Slightly above the entrance to the vagina is a small, hooded protrusion called a clitoris; this is extremely sexually sensitive to the point that rough contact will cause it to retreat under the hood.

All of these sexual areas can be stroked or lightly pressured (squeezing for the penis, filling/outward pressure for the vagina) for sexual pleasure; the human may request more, less, firmer, faster, etc. In addition, humans also often enjoy stimulation of the nipples (the paired protrusions on their upper torso). Individual humans may also have other sexually-stimulating zones, such as the backs of the ears and neck. Human aggression may or may not extend to sexual contact, some enjoy pinching/being pinched, biting/being bitten, striking/being struck, etc, even to the point of injury. This is something to discuss beforehand and in the moment.

Continued sexual pleasure will eventually cause the human to "climax", which for the male produces that jet of nutrient gel and genetic material, and for the female involves involuntary clenching of muscles in and around the internal genitals. After this, the penis will become soft and possibly painfully sensitive, requiring recovery time before it can stiffen again; whether a female will want to continue (and whether she will climax again) varies.

Humans often enjoy "cuddling" after: a period of quietly resting together skin-to-skin.

Risks:

Hybridization and prevention: Either sex can take reproduction-preventing medication, but it is very rare for human females to produce human/non-human hybrids, owing to the scientific details of reproduction and the immune system. Hybridization is usually the result of a reproduction-capable non-human mating with a human male. If this would be a risk for your species, and the human male is not on preventive medication, he can wear a "condom," a penis-sheathe designed to prevent the dispersion of his genetic material.

Disease: Although inter-species disease risk is low, it is still important for the human to be screened for anything dangerous to you, given the sheer volume and aggressiveness of Terran-native microbes. Humans have a microbiome of bacteria, viruses and fungi on their skin — and, for females, within their internal genitalia — all of which are usually harmless to them. They also have a separate oral microbiome that is considerably more dangerous and should be avoided unless medical has screened and approved it specifically. (Humans can also spread pathogenic microbes to each other by sexual contact, but the non-human risk from those is not particularly more than from the others.)

Fluids: The human male's sexual fluids are usually slightly alkali and the human female's are usually slightly acidic. A condom or similar device can be used for protection from this risk as well. Their mouth fluid is acidic and corrosive regardless of microbiome, belonging to their digestive system.

!! Always, always talk with medical first. They can answer questions about your species-specific risks regarding hybridization, dangerous fluids, or Terran-native microbes. They can do this well in advance of sexual contact or even attraction to specific partners; only the disease screening is specific to individual humans. !!

There is considerable variation in human genitalia: In length and thickness, in curves and angles, in hair presence, in color, in sensitivity. There is also considerable variation in what a human may enjoy or be capable of sexually. And, as the universe has learned, humans are creative. If there is mutual interest but your body cannot do the things described, or if medical has given you dire restrictions, talk to the human about it. Humans live by the Terran saying, "where there is a will, there is a way." Do not assume that mutual enjoyment is impossible.