polypsychismn.
/ˌpɒlɪˈsʌɪkɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /ˌpɑliˈsaɪˌkɪz(ə)m/ Chiefly Philosophy and Psychology.† 2. The belief in a multiplicity of spiritual beings as the causes of natural phenomena. Obsolete. rare.
1. The belief that one person may have multiple souls or spirits; the theory that the mind is composed of multiple psychic elements. Also: multiplicity of souls or psyches.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > psychology > psychology of personality > [noun] > belief in multiple souls
polypsychism1856
society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > soul > doctrines concerning the soul > [noun] > polypsychism
polypsychism1856
1856 W. A. Butler Lect. Hist. Anc. Philos. I. 237 Even in the human frame itself there is found among savage nations the belief of a multiplicity of souls; the process leading to polypsychism being exactly the same as that which multiplies the directors or animators of the universe.
1897 Philos. Rev. 6 431 In order to explain the apparent difference between mental action and the normal activities of vegetative life, the author accepts the theory of polyzoism or polypsychism.
1916 Philos. Rev. 25 73 There are suggestions of polypsychism even in the normal mind.
1925 H. Szold & P. Radin tr. L. Ginzberg Legends Jews (1998) V. 74 This Haggadah..wishes to express the view of polypsychism, which was prevalent in ancient times.
1998 G. Delaney All about Dreams i. 61 Polypsychism postulated that under hypnosis the conscious ego was pushed aside and various sub-egos would surface.
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a1894 G. J. Romanes Thoughts Relig. (1895) i. 50 The gradual integration of this anthropopsychic hypothesis from its earliest and most diffused form of what we may term polypsychism (wherein the causes inferred were almost as personally numerous as the effects contemplated), through polytheism..up to monotheism.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1856