The Third Man Syndrome: A Psychological Insight

During distressing situations in life, do you see or feel an apparition? Or do hear a voice in your head? A voice that feels like your subconscious or God or like a guardian angel. Have you experienced it? If not, read on to know about that mysterious companion! 

What is third-man syndrome? 

The third man syndrome or third man factor describes instances where individuals report feeling the presence of an invisible entity despite being alone. Individuals experience it as an additional person, such as a spirit, that offers comfort or support during traumatic events. This third person sometimes is just a comforting presence almost like an imaginary friend. While some have reported that this person steps in and lends a helping hand to save their life. It often offers guidance that helps individuals navigate intense life-and-death situations. People have reported having felt, motivated, comforted, redirected and even encouraged to persevere. 

Read More: Understanding Cotard Delusion: The Walking Corpse Syndrome

Who reported these experiences? 

People who have been in high-stress or life-threatening situations have experienced this. 

• Mountain climbers: some climbers who got stuck in high altitudes in extreme climatic conditions have reported seeing a guiding figure that helped them find their way back to safety. 
• Survivors of a natural calamity: people who got trapped in disasters like avalanches, floods and earthquakes have felt the third person giving them emotional support. People who went through near-death experiences like horrendous accidents or terrorist attacks also sensed the same. 
• Military soldiers: people serving in the military often stare death in the face and suffer everything away from their family for months or even years together. During war and combat situations, soldiers recounted feeling a presence nearby giving them the strength needed to overcome fear and isolation. 

The first documentation of the syndrome

In 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton and his men embarked on an Antarctic expedition, but they became stranded in the ice for more than two years. They suffered through unbelievable temperatures and struggled to find safety. Shackleton wrote in his books that he believed that when they were climbing mountains capped with freezing glaciers for 36 painful hours, he surely felt a third person along with them.

Later many adventurers started to report similar experiences. A study about adventures revealed that most cases were reported by climbers majorly. Next in line were shipwreck survivors and solo sailors. (As you read this, are you thinking about the movie, life of Pi?  You’re not alone!) The last group to report were the polar explorers. 

John Geiger in his book, ‘The Third Man Factor’ says, that if only a few people experienced this third man, it would have been rejected as a strange delusion of a confused and stressed mind. But many survivors have been sharing their stories for decades now. 

Read More: You are not Alone: Understanding the Depths of Depersonalization Disorder

Tales about the Third Man

Ron DiFrancesco was working on the 84th floor of the South Tower during the 9/11 attacks when the second plane hit. As he attempted to descend the stairwell, he had to lie down to escape the intense heat and dense smoke. During this harrowing moment, he felt an unseen force grasp his hand and guide him to safety. DiFrancesco was the last person to exit the South Tower before it collapsed.

Robert Falcon Scott’s ill-fated 1911-12 expedition from Ross Island to the South Pole and back. However, the trek did not go as planned, and the group ultimately turned back at the Pole. During the harsh southward journey across the Ross Ice Shelf, which Hillary referred to as a “monochrome of misery,” he felt at times that he was accompanied by the spirits of his late mother or deceased climbing friends.

Psychological Perspective

Psychologists have given explanations for this phenomenon, and they’ve explained a few triggers like 

• Boredom 
• Extreme fatigue 
• Sensory deprivation ( seen in astronauts, and solo travellers too) 

John Geiger suggests that the third man factor is yet another coping mechanism for individuals facing intense physical or mental stress. He also believed that there surely is a biochemical reaction and misfiring in the brain, and he also leaned towards the spiritual or religious explanations.  Many conclude that it is a hallucination triggered by stress, some say it’s a coping mechanism and others believe it’s a guardian angel. 

New age psychologists have used the ‘third man factor’ where the ‘cultivated inner character’ lends psychological support and comfort for treating trauma patients. Clinical psychologist Lissa Johnson has successfully motivated patients to build an imaginary inner character and to engage in an internal dialogue to cross a hard situation at hand. She believes that this method is a very useful tool in therapy and the self-healing process. 

The third man syndrome can be understood as an emotion-focused coping mechanism to reduce distress and regulate emotions. Emotion-focused coping is usually considered best suited for stressors that seem uncontrollable. This mechanism employs strategies like, 

• Positive reappraisal
• Exercising self-control
• Accepting responsibility 

Researching this phenomenon helps us understand the way our mind copes and fights to save us. It throws light on psychological resilience—adapting to regain a healthy mental state during a crisis. It sure is a concept that leaves us thinking about humans, their endurance levels and what drives them to survive the most harrowing circumstances.  If you’re caught in a dangerous situation, follow your survival instincts, follow your third man and don’t ever give up. 

FAQs

1. What does the third man do?

The “third man” often offers reassurance, motivation, or guidance, helping individuals cope with their circumstances and encouraging them to persevere.

2. Is the third man real?

Experiences of the third man are subjective and often attributed to psychological coping mechanisms, though some believe it represents a spiritual presence.

3. How does it differ from hallucinations?

While both involve sensing something not physically present, the third man factor is typically described as comforting and supportive, whereas hallucinations can be distressing and disorienting.