Merging

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Merging refers to two or more headmates or fragments blurring together in a temporary or permanent way, such that they are no longer meaningfully distinct for some period of time. The synonym integration is often used in medical contexts, while the synonym fusion sees wide use in multiple context.

Integration specifically can have negative connotations, as for a time it was believed to be a cure to plurality. This assumption, that the final goal of all plurality therapy was complete integration, has since been challenged by a large community of multiple believing that multiplicity is non-harmful or even beneficial. While this trend of pushing systems to integrate seems less common today, it has not died out and is response for much distrust of the medical establishment by the plural community.

Merging is also seen as ethically complex by some sections of the multiplicity community. Accidental and temporary merges are generally seen as ethically neutral, but so called forced merges – in which one or both parties don't consent to the merge – might be seen as a last resort or even universally wrong, or even akin to murder. At the same time, some systems may be genuinely happier and more functional post-merge.

Final fusion, full integration or full merge refers to completely merging all headmates and fragments into a singlet.