In psychology and mental health, a host is the most important (to therapeutic goals) mental entity in someone who has dissociative identity disorder (formerly known as multiple personality disorder). Often this is thought to be the root of the person's psyche, or at least a key figure for completion of therapy, whether or not it has integration as a goal.
People suffering from this disorder, or who believe themselves to contain multiple mental or spiritual entities, often use the term "host" in reference to the entirety of the body and all of the entities contained therein. This usage of the term denotes that the singular physical entity in question claims many internal mental residents; no importance to one entity over the rest is implied.
Famous quotes containing the word host:
“Nothing is quite so wretchedly corrupt as an aristocracy which has lost its power but kept its wealth and which still has endless leisure to devote to nothing but banal enjoyments. All its great thoughts and passionate energy are things of the past, and nothing but a host of petty, gnawing vices now cling to it like worms to a corpse.”
—Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–1859)