Requested by @thedeadmothisalive hi guys sorry its been a longggg time since a new Let's Talk episode!! ive been super busy on @_priide adn stuff lol so i lowkey forgot abt this. ty all sm for being so patient, these have ended up being some of my most popular projects!! (btw comment 'ping' if u want to be let know when the next Let's Talk comes out <3) now, because theres way too many anti-therians out there, welcome to Let's Talk: Science and real facts behind therianthropy! (btw im not a therian, but i obvs support ^^) (ALSO HELP I LOVE YALLS MASKS THEY ARE SO PRETTY IM TOO OBSSESSED) also unlike, some other ones, this project is NOT open for debate in comments. any hateful comments will be reported, and this includes fake sincerity that invokes self doubt <3 other Let's Talk episodes include "lets talk: why I believe my god thinks gay is okay" and "lets talk: history was super queer!" STUDIO: https://scratch.mit.edu/studios/51652289/ Table Of Contents: {INTRO TO MODERN THERIANTHROPY} {COMMUNITY} {HISTORY OF THERIANTHROPY} {COGNITIVE INSIGHTS} {DISMANTLING PATHOLOGIZATION} {THE LIVED EXPERIENCE} {AN INTRO TO MODERN THERIANTHROPY} According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the adjective form therianthropic officially means "combining human and animal form" or relating to mythological deities that are partly human and partly animal. In 1992–1993, the modern concept emerged on the Usenet group alt.horror.werewolves. Originally created to discuss werewolf fiction, the forum's users began sharing personal experiences of spiritually or psychologically feeling like wolves or other animals in human bodies. By 1994, the term "therianthropy" was formally adopted by the community to separate their lived identity from fictional roleplay. Now, being a therian means a person who feels a psychological connection to an animal or mythical creature; therians do not believe that they are physically a wolf or other animal. This differs from a furry in the main way being that being a therian is not a choice, and not all therians wear gear, make animal noises, or do quadrobic (an exercise where a person moves in a way, typically on four limbs, that their theriotype would to feel more connected) The mentallity that one is a therian is often developed way before one hears the word 'therian'. Often, in childhood, therians report intense animal play, an unexplainable comfort in nature, a preference for crawling, and other early signs of their connection to the animal world. Then, in adolescence, people are often working to form their sense of self. It is often in this time that therians will hear the words "therian" and "shift", serving as their awakening. Once the narrative is established, the individual reaches what psychologists call "identity achievement." They no longer view their phantom or mental shifts as a frightening disruption. Instead, the shifts are integrated as a predictable, normal, and beautifully complex part of how they experience the world. The idea of being a therian is not a new internet thing either, which I will talk abt more in the history section; the word therian simply helped people put a word to their experience. Qualitative research (such as importemt studies by dr. Clive Baldwin) explicitly draws parallels between the psychological process of realizing you are a Therian and realizing you are Transgender. Just as transgender individuals do not "choose" their gender identity, qualitative data proves that Therians do not consciously create or choose their theriotype. Participants describe it as a trait present from birth, which they eventually "awaken" to. Many studies look at how some therians feel an internal mismatch with being in a human form, like wishing they had paws, fur, or wings instead. They might also feel awkward when they are expected to act completely human all the time. Seeing this as a simple 'species dysphoria' helps researchers find positive, supportive ways to make sure therians feel comfortable and happy in their everyday lives. It is important to note that healthy therians (almost all) are not mentally ill. They remain completely in touch with their physical realities while acknowledging their psychological connection. {COMMUNITY} Therians are actually a far more prominent group than most people realize. When social scientists from the International Anthropomorphic Research Project surveyed groups of people from all over, they discovered that 5- 15% of people self-identified as a therian. However, that number could be even larger. About 27.1% of people did not know that the word therian existed, so there could very well be non-awakened therians in that group. However, 22% of the total pool independently stated they felt "less than 100% human," and 79% of them expressed a profound desire to be non-human. I don't know about you guys, but I'm sensing something that feels a lot like possible therians. (cont.)
(cont.) The space for therians serves as a greatly inclusive space, with a vital interconnection to queer and neurodivergent youth. {HISTORY OF THERIANTHROPY} Therians go much further back than modern internet culture. In many Indigenous cultures globally, huamns wer enot viewd as spererate form animals; totemism involves a deep identity link between a person (or clan) and a specific animal species. This connection is treated as a sacred reality, mirroring how modern therians view their souls. In European folklore and Mesoamerican traditions (as well as others not listed), it supports the idea that humans have always had internal animalistic traits or shifts. Historically, these were believed to be a gift or standard folklore. Anthropologists note that the intense separation between "human" and "animal" is a relatively modern, Western construct. Many historical societies viewed human-animal connection as a healthy variation of self-sense, rather than a delusion like many antis treat it as now {COGNITIVE INSIGHTS} A large counter-therian argument is that it is inherently harmful to people who identify as therian. However, studies such as Clegg, Collings, and others show that people embracing a therian identity works as a protective barrier that encourages not only self-autonomy, but also internal resilience in neurodivergent minds. The lower scores in social relationships from therians is more likely a result of the biases of non-therians than the non-sociability of therians. Many therians use practices such as meditation or journaling to achieve higher self-awareness and internal alignment. {DISMANTLING PATHOLOGIZATION} Many people compare therianthropy to a mental illness. Therians are not mentally ill; there's a different word for that. A healthy, nonclinical therian is far different from rare psychiatric delusions like clinical lycanthropy. Therians are a valid, nonharmful variation of human existence and do not actively believe that they are physically a wolf, crow, or other animal. {THE LIVED EXPERIENCE} Now, of course, as much as I can talk about therians, they are a thriving group of people that have their own day-to-day life. Shifting in therians can involve multiple forms, such as experiencing phantom limbs or mental transitions into the world of thier theriotype. Science views this as a non-harmful, valid cognitive experience. Theriotypes are the animals a therian feels connected to (note: this can be through a believed past life, an internal connection, or something else). While many antis argue that these animals are merely a favorite animal or preferred aesthetic, data argues otherwise. The most common therian types are a form of feline or canine. Psychologists note that as humans are mammals, our neurological wiring is highly receptive to mammalian behaviors, social structures, and vocalizations. This could cause more neurological connections to mammals like ourselves. If therianthropy were chosen for aesthetics or social clout, every therian would choose majestic or popular animals like lions, eagles, or wolves. In reality, the community has immense biodiversity, including insects, reptiles, rodents, and bottom-feeding aquatic life. The fact that individuals still fiercely claim and experience these theriotypes proves that the identity is discovered, not chosen. Furscience's 7.4 Age of Origin data shows that therians recognize their non-human traits significantly younger than people who have hobbies do. They also spend a much larger percentage of their lives experiencing these specific animal traits; a trend follower might like a style for a year, then move on; however, therians report years, even decades of the same phantom shifts (e.g., a specific ear shape). I'm going to run out of space in this description soon, so sorry there's a lot more to include, but if you know any other facts, I'd love to learn more in the comments!! Many, but not all therian also practice things such as vocals (making sounds simailar to that of thier theriotype) or quadrobics (physically moving similar to that of thier theriotype) ALSO TO MY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE WHO READ THIS TO THE END TYSM YOU ARE AMAZING GO LISTEN TO "FOX PAWS" IT'S A TUFF THERIAN SONG ILYSM BYE ~pix
