The trigamist syndrome

Int J Soc Psychiatry. 1980;26(4):242-5. doi: 10.1177/002076408002600401.

Abstract

A BIGAMIST is a man who is "legally" married to two women. A "TRIGAMIST" (according to my definition) is a PERSON who is "married" (in the sense of being deeply attached) three times over to such an extent that there is little or no room left for a "permanent" commitment. The three "marriages" are to: a) a parent b) an occupation c) an ideal figure which exists only in the mind of the beholder. Parts of this syndrome have been described separately in scientific and literary form innumerable times but the syndrome as a WHOLE has never been recognised or described in spite of the fact that it is responsible for influencing millions of human relationships and destroying the life of countless people.

MeSH terms

  • Fantasy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Male
  • Marriage*
  • Object Attachment
  • Parent-Child Relations
  • Syndrome