prosopopesis

From prosopo- (“person, mask”) +‎ -poiesis; introduced by French psychical researcher René Sudre, whose book "Parapsychology" (1926) was published in English by Grove Press in 1962. Possibly influenced by προσωποποιία (prosōpopoiía, “dramatization, prosopopoeia”).

prosopopesis

1. (parapsychology, rare) A sudden and profound change of an individual's personality, whether spontaneous or induced e.g. in hypnosis.
   • 1929, Psychic Research, volume 23, American Society for Psychical Research, page 381:

     Mr. Soal declares that while the presence of certain persons is favorable to his duplication of personality and while some persons actually aid the prosopopesis, others have an inhibitive influence.

   • 2011, Etzel Cardeña, Michael Winkelman, Altering Consciousness: Multidisiplinary Perspectives, volume 1, ABC-CLIO, →ISBN, page 105:

     Later, French psychical researcher René Sudre (1880-1968) discussed what he referred to as prosopopesis or the nonconscious tendency to impersonate, as seen in mediumship, as well as in hypnosis, possession and cases of double and multiple personality.

   • 1975, Carl Allanmore Murchison, The case for and against psychical belief, Ayer Publishing, →ISBN, page 94:

     Walter is good-naturedly willing to be called a "secondary personality," a "hypnotic impersonation", a "mindkin" (C.D.Broad), a "prosopopesis" (Sudre) or "entelechy" (Driesch). In fact, he says, "You may call me anything but 'It'!"

• dissociative identity disorder
• possession
• séance
• trance