Illeism (third person self-reference) and Nosism (plural self-reference): Described as typical behavior in a textbook on multiple personality
As is well known, some people refer to themselves in the third person (1) or as “we” (2). It may be socially appropriate with no diagnostic implications.
Less well known, illeism and nosism are typical of multiple personality:
“From time to time, multiples will…make self-references in the first person plural or the third person. The use of ‘we’ in a collective manner, rather than in the editorial sense, is a…common observation. Patients may also say ‘he’ or ‘she’ in reference to their own behavior” (3, p. 84).
Since multiple personality, even when present, is usually camouflaged and undetected—especially in its most common form as a mentally well, potentially useful trait—the possibility of its presence in any person who uses illeism or nosism is worth considering.
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illeism
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nosism
3. Frank W. Putnam, MD. Diagnosis and Treatment of Multiple Personality Disorder. New York, The Guilford Press, 1989.
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