Pluralism

Sometimes one is not enough. But when you don't have enough bodies, how do you get more people?
Make room... head room.

Symptoms

Pluralism, put simply, is when a single physical body is occupied by more than one mind. Each mind is a person of their own and can result in a variety of mental ecosystems. There are no set rules to how a plural system must form or behave.
Some cases are willing creations of additional headmates, others are accidental walk-ins and appearances. Some systems exist from birth, others form over time. The lifespan of headmates can vary, as can who is in control of the physical body.

Affected Groups

Any person with the capacity to think can become a plural system. Different minds can have vastly different levels of intelligence; some brilliant, some primal. Additionally, some minds may have a very different mental image of themselves, differing from the reality of the body they inhabit.

Cultural Reception

Due to the unusual nature and notion of having more than one person per body, pluralism is more easily looked upon in a negative light as some form of possession or madness. This couldn't be further from the truth, however.
As such, those who have pluralism tend to keep it to themselves as a closely guarded secret.

Note:

Plural systems are a real life phenomenon. This article is designed as a brief introduction to the concept for story and reader purposes. Do NOT assume that what is stated here covers everything about being plural, nor is the entire story. Take the time to investigate further, and discuss with other people about their experiences.

Type

Mental

Origin

Natural

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired & Congenital

Rarity

Extremely Rare

For more information about plural systems and their many forms in real life, feel free to explore this Discord server: Hearing Voices (Don't mind the name)