Osddifficult has some very good points. We also wanted to jump in on this conversation because we’ve found it to be interesting.
We like to look at “alter roles” as vague descriptions, and perhaps that’ll be a useful viewpoint to someone else as well. Alters tend to be fluid, just like people are, and we find it uncomfortable to be shoved into rigid, unrelenting boxes. However, we still find “alter types” helpful.
For instance, if someone is the “host,” they’re simply fronting the most. Other alters might be able to be the host, and if they do host, then they can claim that label. Some alters who front very often claim the “host” label even if they haven’t fronted recently. And that’s okay.
What’s important is that each alter is comfortable with their labels and chooses them themselves. Other alters can suggest labels, but if the alter doesn’t like it, the label doesn’t stick.
Another example. We have one alter who claims to be a “persecutor.” He certainly has the tendencies of one and most of the system agrees with his assessment. We have another alter who sometimes does things that tumblr would argue makes him a “persecutor.” That alter, however, is largely not regarded as a “persecutor” by the system because they don’t agree with that label. Furthermore, having that label attached to them would be traumatic for him, so we ask that he watches those tendencies but we don’t call him a “persecutor” for them. It would be counterproductive to do so.
The difference is that one alter chose that label and the other didn’t. We also encourage everyone to find their function rather than their label. By function I mean what their defining characteristics are, how they relate to the system’s past, and what would / wouldn’t help them move forward. Sometimes that’s too much, and the question becomes what do they need right now to help them.
If an alter does want a label, it doesn’t have to stick forever, either. An alter who wants a break from being the host doesn’t mean they can never be the host again. An alter who is a persecutor can grow into a protector, or something else entirely. You can have alters that fit no label but still have a function in the system, and that’s perfectly fine. You don’t need a label to justify your existence. Your system needed you, and that’s enough.
Tl;dr: it’s better to find out what works best to help each alter than apply labels to everyone, and if labels are wanted, let alters choose their own labels and let them continue to grow as they need to.
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