what representation of DID systems in books/films/tv shows do you want to see? what should writers avoid? what should we include?
Ok, so the thing is, as a system that has befriended a lot of other systems and is dating one, there's multiple types of DID and non DID systems (OSSD1a/b)
About 1-1.5% of the population has DID, tho it could be higher bc the entire goal of the disorder is to hide itself so that you don't have to individually process all the trauma
Every system is going to operate so differently, and it's gonna depend a lot on what type of system. You can't rly make overall generalizations with systems bc each of us experiences systemhood so differently, so keep this in mind with what I say and when you write characters with DID. This is going to be accidentally biased bc im a ramcoa/oea system dating another one, so my perception is a bit skewed.
There's OSDD1a/b, DID, P-DID, Polyfragmented DID that can also include RAMCOA/ OEA systems which are the only ones which will have alters purposely programmed by other people into the system for certain roles that often have triggers. This will affect the severity of symptoms, among other things like alter count. The average is 15, some systems only have 2-5, and often with polyfrag systems can to into the hundreds and sometimes even thousands.
New alters arise mostly from stress and/or trauma, and sometimes have specific roles suited for the scenario. Sometimes not. Sometimes, it just happens bc u watched a rly good show and got too attached to someone (Thalia Grace from PJO is an example for me). Different systems will split new alters at different rates.
System communication is different for everyone, and a good chunk of us have what's called an inner world where we perceive our alters in different ways. Innerworlds vary incredibly.
Ok, for stuff to avoid, the evil alter stereotype. The vast majority of systems do not have alters whose purpose is mainly to cause harm (this is almost only actually seen in RAMCOA/ OEA systems where it was programmed as a role). There are persecutors and prosecutors who often will cause some harm, but it's more often reactive, and their goal is trying to keep the system safe. The difference between the last 2 is the first in harm to the system, and the second is harm to those outside the system
A LOT of repeated trauma throughout childhood is required for the disorder to develop, so you will have to take that into account as well as common comorbidities like CPTSD, BPD, autism, etc
Also shit memory most of the time. A lot of us, especially with less good system communication, struggle a lot with memory and, at least in me and my partners' case, often have what I like to call selective memories, which is like not remembering stuff when thinking about it on ur own but often if someone mentions it to you, it comes back. Theres also often headaches when switches between alters happen, and switches are mostly subtle. There's also constant self-doubt about memories bc of how blurry they are, especially childhood ones (I have MAX a dozen memories before the age of 10 i can actively remember at any given time, but im on the more extreme end). Same with overall systemhood, imposter syndrome could honestly be added to the diagnostic criteria.
Systems are supposed to be accountable for their alters, and this can really, really suck
System roles are something that every system has. There are many, and not everyone has a strict role. It varies vastly. There are gatekeepers, hosts, trauma holders, memory holders, symptom holders, littles, protectors, pers/pros, programmed alters (look into different types of programming if its ramcoa/oea), and many more
Non-human alters are very much a thing and are more common than you think on average
Fictives and factives are alters whose origin comes from a source, fictives from non real sources, and vice versa (ex.: a character from a piece of media a person likes or someone in their life). These guys aren't inherently like their sources, it is just an inspiration to different degrees of similarity.
There's also small things like different alters can literally have different physical reactions to certain things like drugs and even certain allergens.
There's also alter fusion where 2 or more alters will combine into a new one. Some systems can end up as one single alter, but there is always a chance of splitting again. This is not the goal for many systems
Sometimes, alters go dormant and disappear, sometimes permanently
Anyways, id suggest doing more research but these are some basics
