Definition and Etymology of Illieism

The word illieism comes from the Latin ille, which means "he" or "that one" (third person masculine demonstrative pronoun). Illieism refers to the act of referring to oneself using the third person singular — or one's own name — rather than the pronoun "I". "He needs to rest," says someone to talk about themselves. "Marie is tired," says Marie while talking about herself.

This phenomenon is universal in early childhood (children aged 2-3 naturally speak of themselves in the third person before mastering "I") and common in certain cultural or rhetorical contexts (political speech, distanced autobiographical narrative, certain idioms). It becomes more remarkable — and psychologically interesting — when it persists in adults during everyday conversations.

Illieism in Child Development: A Normal Transition

Before understanding adult illieism, it is useful to understand that illieism is the norm in young children. Between 18 months and 3 years, children often speak of themselves in the third person — "Leo wants juice," "Lucie is hurt" — before gradually acquiring the use of the personal pronoun "I" and self-awareness as a distinct subject.

This transition from third to first person is an important milestone in cognitive development and self-awareness. It coincides with the emergence of what psychologists call "theory of mind" — the ability to represent oneself and others as distinct mental agents with their own thoughts, beliefs, and intentions. The child who says "I" asserts their existence as a subject — a major step in the development of self.

When Does Illieism Become Unusual in Children?

While illieism is still common between ages 2 and 4, its persistence beyond 5-6 years warrants attention. It may signal difficulties in the development of self-awareness and theory of mind — which can be observed in certain developmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders. In this context, illieism is not an isolated phenomenon but fits into a broader developmental profile.

Illieism in Adults: Forms and Contexts

In adults, illieism can take several forms and respond to very different motivations. It is important to distinguish these forms to avoid confusion.

Rhetorical and Stylistic Illieism

The oldest and most codified form of illieism is rhetorical. Julius Caesar writes in the third person in his Commentarii to present himself as an objective general recounting facts — not a subjective narrator telling of his victories. Many political leaders, high-level athletes, and public figures have adopted this style to project an image of greatness, objectivity, or detachment. "The president believes that…" sometimes says the president himself — a way to disassociate from their own statement and confer institutional authority to it.

Affective and Informal Illieism

Some people speak of themselves in the third person in an affectionate and informal way — often in a playful context, self-deprecation, humor, or tenderness. "Mathieu wants a hug," says Mathieu to their partner. This style is common in couples, with children, or in close friend groups where it can serve to soften a request, slightly distance the ego, or simply as a charming personality trait.

Illieism as an Emotional Regulation Strategy

This is the most scientifically studied form in recent years. Research published in psychology journals has shown that speaking to oneself in the third person — or referring to oneself by name in internal dialogue — can reduce emotional reactivity in stressful situations and improve the quality of decisions made under pressure.

The psychology of illeism: what it reveals about self-awareness

Illeism is a linguistic phenomenon — but it is also a window into deep psychological and cognitive processes. The way we refer to ourselves in language is not trivial: it reflects and influences how we perceive ourselves as subjects.

Psychological distance and "distanciated self-talk"

The central concept for understanding the potential benefits of illeism is that of "psychological distance." When we say "I," we are fully immersed in our own perspective, emotions, and immediate reactions. When we say "Paul" or "he," we position ourselves slightly outside — we view the situation from a slightly different angle. This distance does not eliminate emotions, but it reduces their intensity and creates more space for adaptive reasoning.

Experimental studies have shown that "distanciated self-talk" (talking about oneself as a third party in one's internal dialogue) improves performance during stressful public speaking, reduces rumination after a difficult emotional event, and promotes more balanced reasoning about important decisions — by reducing biases related to personal emotional involvement.

Illeism and narcissism: the link is more complex than it seems

There is a popular association between illeism and narcissism — the idea that talking about oneself in the third person would be a sign of grandiosity or exaggerated self-importance. This association is not entirely unfounded: some studies have found a slight correlation between frequent illeism and certain narcissistic traits, and public figures known for their narcissistic behaviors have sometimes been cited as examples of illeists.

But the relationship is more complex. Illeism can serve many very different purposes — and its meaning entirely depends on the context. The same linguistic phenomenon can be an adaptive emotional regulation strategy, a deliberate rhetorical trait, an affective play, or — in some cases and clinical contexts — a symptom of self-awareness disorders.

Illocution and Neurology: When the "I" Loses Its Anchors

Self-awareness — this ability to represent oneself as a distinct subject, to distinguish "me" from the rest of the world — is a complex cognitive function that relies on specific brain networks, notably the medial prefrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate cortex, and certain parietal regions. Lesions or dysfunctions in these networks can affect self-awareness — and sometimes manifest as disturbances in how a person refers to themselves in language.

Illocution in Certain Neurodevelopmental Disorders

In autism spectrum disorders, difficulties in the use of personal pronouns — particularly confusion or delay in acquiring the pronoun "I" — are sometimes observed, especially in profiles with significant language difficulties. These difficulties are related to specificities in processing the perspective of others (theory of mind) and in representing the self as a linguistic reference point.

Illocution in Dissociative Disorders

In certain dissociative disorders, notably dissociative identity disorder, individuals may systematically refer to certain "parts" of themselves in the third person — a phenomenon that reflects the fragmentation of subjective identity. This use of the third person is qualitatively very different from rhetorical or affective illocution.

Illocution and Dementias

In some advanced forms of dementia, particularly frontotemporal dementias that affect self-awareness networks, disturbances in the use of personal pronouns may occur. A patient may begin to refer to themselves in the third person in an incoherent or intrusive manner — a phenomenon that can confuse family members and caregivers. In this clinical context, illocution is a symptom, not a personality trait.

Illeism as a deliberate psychological tool

Beyond its spontaneous manifestations, illeism can be used deliberately as a tool for personal development and emotional regulation. This practical application is based on serious research — even if it remains to be considered as a complementary tool rather than as a therapy.

The "distanciated self-talk" in stress management

When faced with a difficult decision, a stressful speaking engagement, or an emotionally intense situation, asking oneself "What should [first name] do in this situation?" rather than "What should I do?" can reduce emotional activation and improve the quality of reasoning. This tiny shift in perspective — from "I" to the first name or "he/she" — is enough to create a measurable psychological distance.

Illocution in Culture and History

Illocution traverses history and cultures. In addition to Julius Caesar, other historical and contemporary figures have used or are using illocution in their public communication. In high-level sports, some athletes refer to themselves in the third person — a phenomenon that has been widely discussed in the media. This practice may reflect a particular identity construction, a dissociation between the private individual and the public "brand" they embody, or a deliberate rhetorical strategy.

In some cultures, using the third person to refer to oneself is conventional and polite — notably in certain formal Japanese contexts, or in some religious traditions where humility requires not referring to oneself with the dominant "I." The cultural significance of illocution therefore varies considerably depending on the contexts.

Cognitive Functions Involved in Illocution

Illocution mobilizes complex cognitive functions that explain why it can be both a symptom of disorder and a therapeutic tool.