The third man or the third man syndrome refers to the situations where an unseen presence such
as a spirit provides comfort or support during traumatic experiences.
Sir Ernest Shackleton in his book 'South', described his belief that an incorporeal being joined him
and others during the final leg of their journey. Shackleton wrote, "during that long and racking March
of 36 hours over the unnamed, mountains and glaciers of South Georgia, it
seemed to me often that we were four, not three." His admission resulted in other survivors of extreme
hardship coming forward and sharing similar experiences.
In recent years well-known adventurers reported like Reinhold Messner and polar explorers Peter
Hilary and Ann Bancroft have reported the experience. One study of cases involving adventurers
reported that the largest group involved climbers, with solo sailor sand shipwreck survivors being
the second most group followed by polar explorers.
Some journalists have related this to the concept of a guardian angel or
an imaginary friend.
Scientific explanations consider this as 'coping mechanism' or as example 'bicameralism'. The concept
concept was popularised by a book by John G. Geiger The Third Man Factor, that documents scores of
examples.
Modern psychologists have used the "third man factor" to treat victims of trauma.
The 'cultivated inner character" lends imagined support and comfort.