Therianthropy: Difference between revisions

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			{{distinguish\|Theriomorphism}}
	'''Therianthropy''' is a generic term for any transformation of a human into another ] form, either as a part of ] or as a ] concept. The word is derived from ] ''therion'', meaning "wild animal", and ''anthrōpos'', meaning "man".
			'''Therianthropy''' may refer to:
			* Human-animal ] in mythology, folklore, and fiction
			* ], a psychiatric delusion of transforming into an animal

	==~~Scholarly~~ ~~use~~ of ~~the term~~==		== See also ==
			* ], a subclass of mammals

			* ] "therians", people who identify as partially or entirely animal
	In ], mythology and ], therianthropy can be used to describe a character that shares some traits of humans and some of non-human animals. The most commonly known form is ], from the Greek word ''lycos'' ("]"), the technical term for man-wolf transformations. Although the precise definition of lycanthropy specifically refers only to werewolves, the term is often used to refer to shape changing to any non-human animal form. For further information on this concept, see the article on ].
			{{dab}}

	Where someone believes they physically change into an animal form (''theriomorphosis''), or possess supernatural non-human animal traits, the term ] is often used. This is widely considered a form of ], though many ] would point out that its religious precedent in ]ic cultures is extensive. Likewise, people who call themselves shapechangers as a form of social identification are generally not considered ill by mental health professionals unless their beliefs interfere with the normal functioning of their lives. This can be a difficult issue, as the line between what the Western mind passes off as a strange or alternative belief and what is considered a ] is indistinct..

	==Modern subcultural use of the term==
	{{merge\|Otherkin}}
	===Beliefs and origins===

	In recent times, a ] has developed that has adopted the word ''therianthropy'' to describe a sense of intense ] or ] identification with a non-] ]. Members of this subculture typically refer to themselves as ''therianthropes'' or ''therians''. The word '']s'' was also common at one point, in reference to shapeshifting creatures of legend such as ], weretigers and the like, but is less common these days. One reason for the waning use of the term "were" might be the growing awareness of the fact that it simply means "man", and not "part human, part --", as it is too often assumed to mean by writers of fiction.

	The ] group alt.horror.werewolves was founded in 1992, and in its earliest days the members discussed fictional shapeshifters. Some posters began to publicly claim that they considered themselves to be partially non-human animal. A number of these people were only joking, but enough people were serious about it that it became a trend. Others who professed the same beliefs soon joined the group. The earliest therians called themselves ''lycanthropes'', but as that word more accurately describes wolf-people, ''therianthropes'' was chosen as a more inclusive term.

	Those within this subculture who identify with a spiritual understanding of this phenomenon may believe that they have the spirit or ], in whole or in part, of a non-human animal, and their beliefs often overlap to some extent with aspects of ] or ]. Some also draw inspiration from stories of shapeshifting in ], ] and ] myths, among others. The term ''spiritual therianthropy'' is often used to differentiate this definition of therianthropy from others.

	Those who prefer a psychological explanation may simply describe it as having a non-human animal side to their personality or nature, with some believing that it may be due to some sort of unusual ], as is thought to be the case with syndromes like ] and ]. Others believe that their ] are partially non-human, but this explanation is unproven, ], and not favored by many. Most of those who support the explanation of atypical neuropsychology, however, do not appear to regard it as innately ].

	In either case, the identification with the non-human animal may be partial, as in those who regard themselves as having both human and non-human attributes, or complete, as in those who regard themselves as essentially non-human animals in human bodies. The terms ''species dysphoria'' and ''transspeciesism'' have occasionally been used to refer to the latter phenomenon, in parallel with the concepts of ] and ].

	Most therians identify with a single type of non-human animal, but there are some who identify with more than one — sometimes related animals, as in several different species of ] or ], for example, but sometimes completely dissimilar animals. Those who identify with all members of one family — for instance, someone who claims to have characteristics of all felines — is called a ''cladotherianthrope''. The species of non-human animal with which a particular therian identifies is sometimes referred to as that person's ''theriotype'' or '']''. The term phenotype was originally more common but has fallen into disuse because it also refers to physical appearance.

	The majority of therianthropes identify as ] or ], often ]s and wolves, but there are also ]s, ], other mammals, and ]. Some skeptics argue that, because of the preponderance of large carnivores, most therians are only faking and are purposefully choosing impressive animals for ego-based purposes. There are also some individuals who identify with mythical species (e.g. ]s, ], ]s, ]s and so forth), but those who fit more in the ] community than the therian community.

	Therianthropes may describe their nature manifesting in terms of their ] processes, their outlook on life, their inner reactions and ]s, their senses, or through their physical body, though claims of actual physical variations from the norm tend to be regarded with skepticism both within and outside the subculture. The human and non-human aspects of the self may co-operate or conflict, leading to happiness or unhappy dysfunction, and may take much self-discovery to begin to understand or accept. Because this is a personal self-perception, the ways in which a person describes his or her self-identification as a therianthrope vary considerably.

	A controversial aspect of therianthropy is the subject of ''shifting'' (a shortened word for ]), which generally refers to any manner by which a therianthrope's nature may become evidenced internally (to themselves) or externally to others. Few people within the subculture doubt that shifts of mental and emotional perception may occur, some therianthropes also claim to experience a physical change to their appearance, a subject known as ''physical shifting'' ( or ''P-shifting''). Many in the therianthrope subculture doubt physical changes actually occur. The overwhelming majority of those outside of the culture deny that any real shifting, mental or physical, occurs.

	===Subculture===
	Therianthropy as a subculture does not have any central ] or ]s, nor any recognized ]. However, those who have been around for a long time are generally listened to, though less out of any perceived spiritual authority than simple acknowledgement of ]. The word "greymuzzle" is often used tongue-in-cheek to describe these people.

	While there is no ] ] ], there exist ] of therians with many diverse outlooks on the concept, including ]s, ]s, and ]s. As could be expected, disagreements are frequent, and the many ] ]s and ]s of the community each have their own "atmosphere", ranging from total ] to scornful ]. There have been intermittent "]" gatherings, referred to as ''howls'', but their purpose is primarily social.

	====Therianthropy vs. clinical lycanthropy====
	Spiritual therianthropy is not automatically the same as ], a ] in which an individual believes he or she belongs to or can change to another ]. While some therianthropes believe they can take on the ] of their "other side" in what is referred to as a ''mental shift'', they believe that they retain control during these transformations and are no greater danger to themselves or others. The term ''contherianthropes'' is sometimes used for those who do not claim to mentally shift but believe they have human and non-human sides which are mixed up into a single unchanging whole.

	====Therianthropy vs. furry fandom====

	Therianthropy should not be confused with the ], though some intermixing of the groups does occur. As a general rule, to an extent, therianthropes are more focused on the sense of an animal within, an animal side to their nature, or spiritual concepts; by contrast, ] are more commonly focused on furry ] and/or ] related to ] non-humans. There is some overlap with those who identify themselves with each group or view the other positively, as well as those in each group who view the other negatively.
	For instance, some furries view therianthropy as "taking it too far," while therianthropes may assert that furries are frivolous and don't pay attention to the true nature of animals.

	==Related articles==
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]

	==See also==
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]

	==External links==
	*
	*

	==References==
	* OED (1933) Vol XI p 288
	* Encyclopaedia Britanica (1886) Vol XX pp367 (C.P.Teile)

	]
	]
	]

	]

Latest revision as of 21:14, 27 May 2024

Not to be confused with Theriomorphism.

Therianthropy may refer to:

Human-animal shapeshifting in mythology, folklore, and fiction
Clinical lycanthropy, a psychiatric delusion of transforming into an animal

Latest revision as of 21:14, 27 May 2024

See also