System

A **system** is the collection of people and entities, often called headmates, that share a single physical plural body.

一个**系统**是所有人和实体的集合，这些人和实体通常被称为意识体，TA们共享一个多意识的身体。

## Common Attributes 共同特征

The experiences of plural systems are very diverse, and every system is different. However, there are certain attributes that are common among systems.

多意识系统的体验是非常多样化的，并且每个系统都不同。然而，有一些特征在各种系统中常见。

* Systems often have a dedicated name, separate from the body's or members' names. It's common for systems to have names that are more like titles than given names, such as being named after flowers, or cosmic themes, with adjectives applied.
* 系统通常有一个确定的名称，和各成员的名字不同。对于系统，更常见的取名方式是取一个主题/称号（title）而不是名字。
* Members of systems may be co-conscious or not. Members may switch in and out, or they might always be active.
* 系统成员可能有也可能没有同时活跃（co-conscious）。有时成员们互相切换（switch），有时候也可能有一直活跃的成员。
* Systems might have a headspace, which is a place where members exist and can interact. Systems that don't have this might still have internal communication.
* 有些系统可能会有里世界，那里有系统成员，TA们可以互动。没有这种空间的系统可能仍有成员内部交流。
* Members of systems might be able to share memories or emotions.
* 系统成员可能共享记忆或情绪。

The System Functions and Terms that apply to systems categories list terms related to system attributes.

系统功能和适用于系统的术语这两个分类罗列了与系统特征相关的术语。

## Term History/术语来源与使用历史

One of the primary theories of the origins of system as a standalone noun is the Internal Family Systems therapy model. In the first paper published on IFS used system independently as well as with adjectives. This paper identifies Multiple Personality Disorder as an extreme version of the natural multiplicity present in all people, an "internal system."

系统这个名词来源的主要说法之一是内部家庭（？）治疗模型。第一篇独立以及联合形容词地使用到“系统”术语的论文发布于IFS（这是什么）。该论文将多重人格障碍定义为人群中自然存在的多意识体系统中最极端的一种，称其“内部系统（internal system）”

The phrase "system of alters" came into use at least as early as 1988, in an article on treating complex MPD, where traumatized children are described as developing "a cohesive and comprehensive system of alters within which their further trauma could be managed" (49), and the term is later changed to "systems" (50) and then "systems of personalities" (55). The 1993 book *First Person Plural*, also notable for its usage of multiple as a standalone noun, refers to "personality systems" (56, 127, 239), "systems of alternate personalities" (57), and "systems of alters" (54, 128, 226). These are not unique examples, and these terms have continued to be used in the medical sphere.

“另我（？）系统”这个术语的使用最早可以追溯到1988年的一篇关于治疗复杂多重人格障碍的文章，该文章认为受情感创伤的儿童会产生一种“紧密结合而综合的系统，使其能够对之后的创伤进行处理“。随后称作“系统”，再随后是“人格系统”，“另我人格系统”，“另我系统”。这些例子并不是唯一使用的术语，这些术语在医学领域沿用至今。

The December 1990 edition of the *Many Voices* newsletter included an entry from a self-identified system called Terry and Friends, currently the earliest record of its usage in plural communities. It was used again by Jessie and Helpers in 1992. A 1994 FAQ in the online mailing list alt.support.dissociation answered questions about "multiple systems," which also mentioned systems not formed by trauma. The December 1996 issue of the *Divided Hearts* newsletter referenced that "some systems have rooms." A 1997 issue used the term a few times in a guide for trauma recovery. The 1998 test issue of the *First Person Plural* newsletter listed "System" in its terminology but does not define it or use it further.

An article from at least 1998 on the Vickis website starts with a quote from "Elaine of the system Patricia," and they had a model of their system with a description stated as being written in 1996. The term was used numerous times on popular empowered multiplicity sites like Dark Personalities (2000), Pavilion Hall (2002), and Astraea's Web (2003). It was used in LiveJournal's multiplicity spaces by 2001.

This information was compiled from multiple posts detailing the history as they were able to uncover it, staying limited to only sources accessible to confirm.

## Formation

Systems can form at any point in life, through many different ways. Terms that describe how a system formed can be found in the system origins category.

## Symbols

The plural rings were created by Tracee of ouregaiya and/or Iris of Astraea in October 2011 and was spread through Email and Livejournal.

The ampersand was adopted by the community, and some systems prefer to be referred to as you& or similarly use ampersands in reference to themselves.

The treblesand was created anonymously and for the use of anyone under the plural umbrella.

## Gallery

The original version of the interlocking circles as they circulated on LJ.An ampersand, another common symbol for plurality.The treblesand, created as a combination of the ampersand and treble clef to symbolize both manyness and harmony. It was created by an anonymous system for all plurals.
## Related Terms

Fronting is when one or more headmates is controlling the body of the system.

The host is a member of the system who is considered the most active, or the most responsible for day-to-day activities.

The core is a member of the system with a direct connection to the body's pre-plural self. Though, not every system has a core.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.hakomiinstitute.com/Forum/Issue10/OurMultipleSelves.pdf
2. ↑ https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1794/1396/Diss\_1\_4\_8\_OCR\_rev.pdf;sequence=4
3. ↑ https://www.google.com/books/edition/First\_Person\_Plural/DzkjTO1OkYMC?hl=en&gbpv=0
4. ↑ https://manyvoicespress.org/backissues-pdf/1990\_12.pdf
5. ↑ https://manyvoicespress.org/backissues-pdf/1992\_08.pdf
6. ↑ https://groups.google.com/g/alt.support.dissociation/c/syXW3KkhIZA/m/gM5TsFZmt2sJ
7. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/19980201031443/https://dhearts.org/libraries/dhnews/dhnews4.html
8. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/19980201090921/https://www.dhearts.org/libraries/dhnews/issue12/aa.html
9. ↑ https://firstpersonplural.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/fpp-preview.pdf
10. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/19980115122108/https://www.asarian.org/~vickis/starting\_out.html
11. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/19980115122130/https://www.asarian.org/~vickis/our\_model.html
12. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20001002094513/https://www.darkpersonalities.com:80/index2.html
13. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20030725121142/https://www.tanuki.cx:80/pavilion/policies/glossary.html
14. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20030111103116/https://www.astraeasweb.net/plural/glossary.html
15. ↑ https://multiplicity.livejournal.com/2651.html
16. ↑ https://lb-lee.dreamwidth.org/1220190.html
17. ↑ https://pluraldeepdive.tumblr.com/post/643168291036282880/the-communal-history-of-system-multiple
18. ↑ https://lb-lee.dreamwidth.org/1009570.html
19. ↑ https://treblesand.dreamwidth.org/
20. ↑ https://lb-lee.dreamwidth.org/1009570.html
21. ↑ https://lb-lee.dreamwidth.org/1009570.html