User:Randombunny/sandbox

Therian

Therians identify as nonhuman animals on a psychological or existential level. The term ‘therianthropy’ comes from the Greek word therian (meaning ‘wild animal’) and anthropos (meaning ‘human’) . Unlike mythological shapeshifters, modern therians do not believe they physically transform into animals. Instead, their identity is rooted in cognitive, emotional, and sensory experiences that align with a particular animal, known as their ‘theriotype,’ which may include wolves, foxes, or big cats (Aftandilian, 2011). Unlike furries, who engage with animal personas in artistic or performative ways, therians view their animal identity as a fundamental and enduring part of their self-concept . This identity manifests through distinct experiences, such as the sensation of phantom limbs (e.g., tails or ears) and mental shifts — temporary changes in thought patterns, instincts, and sensory perception that align with their theriotype. These experiences go beyond symbolic representations, often being felt as real, embodied sensations. Such phenomena challenge traditional views of identity as purely social or symbolic constructs. From a social psychological perspective, therian identity is understood through three aspects: phantom limbs, mental shifts, and the fluid and context-dependent nature of identity, each of which highlights how internal sensations and social contexts shape therian self-concept.

Phantom Limbs and Mental Shifts

Therians often report sensations of ‘phantom limbs,’ a phenomenon typically associated with amputees. However, unlike amputees who feel sensations from lost body parts, therians experience sensations of animal body parts they have never physically possessed, such as tails, wings, muzzles, or claws. These sensations may include pressure, movement, or tactile feelings . For example, a fox therian might feel pressure on their tailbone while seated or experience the swaying sensation of a phantom tail. These experiences are not merely symbolic but are felt as real, embodied sensations .

Theories

Social psychological theories help explain the phenomenon of phantom limbs in therians. Self-categorisation theory (SCT) suggests that people define themselves by social group membership, and for therians, this categorisation includes the ‘other-than-human’ identity . This categorisation influences the body schema, a mental model of one's physical form. By incorporating animal traits into their self-schema, therians experience these traits as integral parts of their physical self. This process differs from typical human self-concepts, as it incorporates nonhuman body elements.

Neuroscientific explanations have been used to legitimise phantom limb sensations . This theory posits that the brain maintains a ‘body map’ of physical structures that remains active even in the absence of a corresponding physical body part. While originally applied to amputees, therians have adapted this explanation to account for sensations of body parts they never had, such as tails or wings. This framing offers scientific legitimacy for their experiences, distancing them from symbolic or imaginary interpretations.

Mental shifts

Another core aspect of therian identity is the experience of mental shifts. During a mental shift, therians report a temporary shift in consciousness, thought processes, and behaviour to those associated with their theriotype . This shift may involve heightened sensory awareness, instinct-driven thinking, and animal-like behaviour. Mental shifts can be triggered by environmental stimuli, such as strong emotions, certain scents, or interactions with animals . For example, the smell of raw meat or the sight of prey-like movement may evoke instinctual responses.

In supportive environments, such as online therian communities, therians may be more likely to experience mental shifts, as their animal identity is affirmed . Platforms like Tumblr and Reddit provide spaces for social validation and support through therians telling personal stories about phantom limbs and mental shifts, receive feedback from others, and develop a shared narrative around these experiences. This process normalises their identity, strengthens group identity and reduces feelings of isolation, as therians see their experiences reflected in the lives of others. From a social identity perspective, therians categorise themselves as part of an ‘other-than-human’ ingroup. The accentuation effect, a key concept in SCT, amplifies this identity by heightening perceived similarities within their ingroup, such as shared experiences of phantom limbs or mental shifts, while emphasising differences from the human outgroup.

Fluid and Context-Dependent Identities

Therian identity is fluid and context-dependent, reflecting broader theories of self-concept . Traditional identity theories, such as self-schema theory, emphasise the stability of the self over time . By contrast, self-categorisation theory highlights the flexibility of identity, suggesting that people shift between different self-concepts depending on social context . For therians, this fluidity manifests in shifts between their ‘human’ and ‘other-than-human’ self-concepts. This process mirrors how individuals shift between other social roles depending on the expectations of their social environment (e.g., student, parent, or employee) but with the added complexity of incorporating nonhuman elements. These often intersect with broader cultural narratives and social meanings attached to animals and other-than-human entities.

John William Waterhouse A Mermaid

This fluidity is seen in related identity groups like ‘mermaiders’ and ‘hellhounds.’ Mermaiders, for instance, identify with mermaid figures for purposes of self-expression or personal transformation . This identity may involve embodying mermaid traits as a means of self-discovery or self-actualisation. Unlike playful roleplay, this process is experienced as authentic and meaningful extension of the self.

Goddess Hel and the hellhound Garmr by Johannes Gehrts, 1889

Similarly, case studies of hellhound identities have shown how personal crises, such as loss of housing, employment, or social connections, can prompt shifts in self-perception . For one individual, identifying as a hellhound emerged as part of a broader process of self-reconstruction during a period of upheaval. Eventually, the individual’s identity shifted to a plant after their father’s death as plant symbolises tough in a movie they watched. This shows identity could even shift between ‘other-than-human’. These cases highlight the role of emotional and social context in shaping self-identity. The concept of the ‘core self’ as stable and unchanging does not fully apply to therians or other-than-human identities. Instead, identity is better understood as a constellation of possible selves, with shifts occurring in response to social, emotional, and cognitive changes.

Cultural and Social Influences on Therian Identity

Therian identity formation is shaped by cultural and social factors, drawing on concepts from social psychology, such as self-schema, social identity, and narrative identity. Unlike conventional social identities, which are often supported by societal narratives, therian identities challenge social norms. This creates a unique set of psychological and social experiences.

Awakening

One major influence on therian identity is the ‘awakening’ process, where individuals recognise and accept their nonhuman nature . Awakening can be a sudden realisation or a gradual process of self-reconstruction. For many, the process involves shifts in self-concept as they incorporate nonhuman traits into their sense of self. These shifts may be marked by the emergence of phantom limbs or mental shifts, as previously discussed.

Category salience

Therian identity illustrates the concept of ‘category salience’ within SCT , where certain identities become more prominent depending on the context. For example, therians may emphasise their ‘other-than-human’ identity in online communities, where it is socially validated and reinforced, while de-emphasising it in environments where it might provoke ridicule or misunderstanding. This selective activation of social categories demonstrates the fluidity of identity and highlights how therians navigate and manage their self-concept based on the social acceptance or rejection of their identities. Additionally, therian identities are shaped by the interplay between personal and social identities. While personal identity involves an individual's unique attributes and characteristics, social identity involves membership in broader social categories. For therians, this interplay often creates tension, as their personal experiences of being ‘other-than-human’ may not align with societal norms that categorise individuals strictly within human frameworks . This misalignment contributes to feelings of exclusion and reinforces the need for therian communities where shared experiences provide validation and a sense of belonging.

Narrative identity

Narrative identity theory provides another explanation for how therians make sense of their experiences. Humans create life stories to give coherence to their identities, but therians face unique challenges because cultural narratives do not account for nonhuman identities. This creates what philosopher Miranda Fricker calls ‘hermeneutical injustice’—a gap in the shared social language needed to articulate certain experiences . For example, before discovering therian communities, individuals may struggle to explain sensations of phantom limbs or animal-like mental states, as these experiences lack mainstream cultural reference points. Upon joining online therian communities, however, individuals gain access to shared narratives, language, and symbols that provide coherence to their experience.

Cultural symbols

Cultural symbols, folklore, and media representations of hybrid creatures (like werewolves and animal-human hybrids) also play a role in shaping therian identity. These images offer symbolic templates that help therians conceptualise their own identities. For example, cultural depictions of wolves, foxes, and dragons provide relatable symbols that therians draw upon to articulate their animal traits. Christopher Partridge's concept of ‘occulture’ explains how subcultures borrow from mainstream culture to ‘re-enchant’ the world . For therians, this re-enchantment process involves blending myth, media, and personal experiences to construct hybrid identities that are part human, part animal.

Online communities

Online communities further influence the social and cultural dimensions of therian identity . These platforms provide a space for therians to share experiences, such as phantom limbs or mental shifts, and develop a collective narrative. Online discussions normalise these experiences and establish a shared cultural identity. Community validation is especially important for identities that are ‘invisible’ to outsiders, as it helps therians contextualise negative social feedback. For example, when outsiders dismiss therian identity as imaginary or symbolic, therians can draw on community support to reframe the issue as a problem of societal misunderstanding, not personal deficiency.

Limitations of current studies

A significant limitation in studying therians is the small sample size, which restricts the generalisability of findings. With limited participants, it becomes challenging to capture the diversity of experiences within the therian community, increasing the risk of bias and limiting the ability to draw robust conclusions about broader identity dynamics. Self-reported data can also introduce biases, as participants may struggle to articulate their unique experiences. Moreover, synchronised online chat was deemed the most suitable technique for gathering data. However, responses were frequently much shorter than those obtained in other interview formats, like in-person interviews, because of the nature of that kind of written communication. Although the length of the interviews in this study mitigated this, it might be more challenging to obtain in-depth answers to the questions asked. To enhance synchronised discussion and lessen participant weariness, future studies might look into using in-person interviews, phone interviews, diaries, or the creation of written extracts .

Conclusion and way forward

Therian identity is shaped by a range of social, cultural, and psychological processes. Social psychological concepts like self-schema, social identity, and narrative identity help explain how therians construct and validate their sense of self. The experiences of phantom limbs and mental shifts are tied to processes of self-categorisation, while online communities provide spaces for social mirroring and validation. As therians navigate their identity in a human-centric world, they draw on cultural symbols, folklore, and online support to normalise their experiences. This process highlights the fluid, context-dependent nature of identity, deeply embedded in social relationships. However, much of the research on therian identity is based on limited samples, primarily from anthropology and cultural studies, and there is a need for more social psychological research to deepen our understanding of these phenomena. Future studies should explore how social and cognitive processes interact in the formation and expression of therian identity, particularly through the lens of self-categorisation and group dynamics. Additionally, research could examine how online communities influence identity development and provide validation for individuals with nonhuman identities. By expanding the scope of research to include social psychological perspectives, scholars can gain a more comprehensive understanding of how therians construct and maintain their identities within both social and cultural contexts.