multiple personality: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Clinical
Quick answer
What does “multiple personality” mean?
A psychological condition where an individual exhibits two or more distinct and separate identities or personality states.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A psychological condition where an individual exhibits two or more distinct and separate identities or personality states.
Informally used to describe someone who behaves in very different ways in different situations, suggesting inconsistency or unpredictability.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the term, but British clinical texts may show slightly quicker adoption of 'Dissociative Identity Disorder' over the older term.
Connotations
In both varieties, the term carries strong clinical connotations. Informal use to describe moodiness is understood but recognized as metaphorical.
Frequency
More frequent in older texts, documentaries, and popular media than in current clinical practice in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “multiple personality” in a Sentence
diagnosed with multiple personalityexhibiting signs of multiple personalitya case of multiple personalityVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “multiple personality” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The film featured a multiple personality protagonist.
- It was a controversial multiple personality diagnosis.
American English
- The movie featured a multiple personality protagonist.
- It was a controversial multiple personality diagnosis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially used metaphorically to criticise inconsistent management or branding.
Academic
Used in psychology, psychiatry, and media studies, often with historical or critical discussion of the term.
Everyday
Understood, but often used inaccurately or metaphorically to describe someone who is moody or changeable.
Technical
The primary context. Appears in clinical literature, though 'Dissociative Identity Disorder' is the modern standard.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “multiple personality”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “multiple personality”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “multiple personality”
- Using it as a casual synonym for 'moody' or 'indecisive'.
- Confusing it with schizophrenia.
- Using it as a current, respectful clinical diagnosis.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are distinct conditions. Schizophrenia primarily involves psychosis, while Dissociative Identity Disorder involves identity fragmentation.
It's not accurate or respectful. It trivialises a serious mental health condition. Use terms like 'unpredictable' or 'changeable' instead.
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is the diagnostic term in manuals like the DSM-5.
Yes, Dissociative Identity Disorder is a recognised, though complex and sometimes controversial, diagnosis in psychiatry.
A psychological condition where an individual exhibits two or more distinct and separate identities or personality states.
Multiple personality is usually technical/clinical in register.
Multiple personality: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmʌltɪpl ˌpɜːsəˈnæləti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmʌltəpl ˌpɜːrsəˈnæləti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's like a man with multiple personalities (informal, metaphorical)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'MULTIple' (many) 'PERSONalities' (characters) in one person.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SELF IS A CONTAINER HOLDING MULTIPLE PEOPLE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'multiple personality' most accurately used today?