Median

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A median system (also called midcontinuum) is a system where members are not as distinct or separate from each other. It can be considered being somewhere between multiple and singlet.

Some are dependent on a single individual, or the dependence can be mutual in that there is no central individual. Some median systems feel more blurred between themselves. Others may also be based around a shared identity or kin.

The members of a median system are often described as aspects or facets. Some median systems may identify as different archetypes. Despite being more fluid and similar, median systems can be very diverse.

Median systems are often opposed to multiple systems, with multiple systems experiencing more distinction between headmates. Some may also oppose it to partitionary systems, but in fact, median systems can be either partitionary or blurian, as variance in identity and presence or absence of memory sharing do not necessarily go hand-in-hand.

History
Originally, median systems were referred to as midcontinuum. It was coined in 1997 by Vickis, describing an experience of not explicitly multiple, but not a singlet either. Encompassing the gray area across the dissociative spectrum, it amassed a large community. However, there was some concern with framing dissociation and plurality as a simple straight line (and the assumption that dissociation & plurality were one and the same). In 2002, the term median was coined to replace it by Blackbirds on Pavilion Hall. It has stuck around since.

Related Terms
Median is often used as opposed to multiple or partitionary, where members in a multiple system are distinct. However, mixed systems exist, in which one system has both median headmates & partitionary headmates. Mediple systems have a mix of median and multiple traits & architecture and may identify with both median & multiple labels, or neither of them.

Additionally, for some median systems, the term facet is preferred over headmate or alter, creating new labels like polyfaceted, for example. Others may use terms like medianmate, especially but not exclusively if they feel more separate or fully-fledged as individuals.

Median systems can be diagnosed with OSDD-1a if they also experience amnesia. BPD & PTSD (or C-PTSD) are also possible diagnoses for traumagenic or otherwise disordered medians who do not experience amnesia.

A median system closer to the singlet side of the spectrum is called a parasian system; in the middle, a mesosian; the multiple side, a diversian. A webbed median system is one without a core, while an orbital median system has one.

A headspace layer where all inhabitants are median with one another is called a median layer.

Internal Family System (IFS) Model is a term that shares similarity with median systems, however it can describe subselves in a singlet, along with subselves of system members.