Polyfasi

Polyfasi is a term used in psychology and parapsychology to describe a phenomenon where an individual claims to experience multiple, distinct personalities or identities within a single consciousness. This is often associated with dissociative disorders, particularly Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder. In DID, a person exhibits two or more distinct personality states that recurrently take executive control of the individual's behavior, accompanied by a deficit in recall of important personal information that is too extensive to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness. The different personalities, or "alters," may have unique names, ages, genders, and even physical characteristics.

The causes of polyfasi are generally understood to be linked to severe trauma experienced during early childhood, typically before the age of six or seven. The theory suggests that in response to overwhelming abuse or neglect, a child's developing psyche fragments as a coping mechanism, creating separate identities to compartmentalize overwhelming experiences and emotions. These dissociative states serve to protect the core self from the full impact of the trauma.

The experience of polyfasi can vary greatly from person to person. Some individuals may be aware of their other personalities, while others may experience significant amnesia between switches. Treatment typically involves long-term psychotherapy aimed at integrating the different personality states, processing the trauma, and developing healthier coping mechanisms. While polyfasi has been a subject of both scientific inquiry and popular fascination, it remains a complex and often misunderstood condition.