Alterhuman Termlist

IDENTITIES

Alterhuman: The umbrella term for people who identify as more/other than human that has to do with species.

Therian(thrope): A person who experiences therianthropy. A therian identifies as a non-human animal and/or experiences animalistic behaviour/instincts/urges/traits on a non-physical level and either a psychological or spiritual level.

Therianthropy: The experience of feeling like you non-physically exist as a particular animal species or clade.

Theriotype: The (sub)species or clade a Therian identifies as.

Theriomythic: An individual who identifies non-physically as a type of categorically fantastical creature, but whose experiences within their identity are marked by a unique animality.

Otherkin: A person who experiences Otherkinnity. Otherkin identify as a non-animal creature on non-physical level and either a psychological or spiritual level.

Otherkinnity: The experience of feeling like you non-physically exist as a particular non-animal creature or branch in the mythical or non-animal kingdom.

Kin/Kintype: The non-animal creature an Otherkin identifies as.

Fictionkin: A person who identifies as a fictional character on a non-physical yet psychological or spiritual level. It is proven that fictionkinnity is not the same experience as Therianthropy or Otherkinnity and therefore it is debated whether it falls under the Alter-human umbrella term or not.

Otherhearted/Animalhearted/Kith: Someone who deeply connects/emphathizes/relates to a creature. Someone who is otherhearted identifies WITH a creature. They often feel as if they could be their family or as if they can somehow communicate with them. They often have an unusual passionate love for this creature.

Pythanthrope/Plantkin: Identifying as a plant on a psychological or spiritual level. Plantkin know they are physically human.

Objectkin: Identifying as an object on a psychological or spiritual level. Objectkin know they are physically human.

Copinglink/Otherlink: Identifying with an animal/creature/character in order to cope with trauma or your current life situation by choice.

DEBUNKS:

Transspecies: A person who does not feel human and sometimes tries to or wants to change their bodily features into those of another creature. Alter-humans are generally NOT transspecies, but they can be.

Teen (Were)wolf: A person who is involved in the Teen (Were)wolf community, which is a branch in the emo/goth community in which people will dress up to look like a wolf and show traits of them for communication and expression. They are typically seen wearing dark clothes, and it's said they invited Taxidermy tails (and gear in general) as accessories in the Therian community.

Clinical Lycanthropy: Believing that you are actually a werewolf or other creature who can physically transform. Lycanthropy is an actual mental illness. Alter-humans are generally not Lycanthropes, but they can be.

Factkin: Identifying as a human being that actually exists or has existed. It is seen as controversial in the Alter-human community due to identity theft. (Not to be mistaken with Factives)

EXPERIENCES

Shift: A change in state of being where a person feels as if they lean more towards their animal/creature-self.

Mental shift: A shift in the thought pattern of a Therian/Otherkin from human to one more of a therio/kintype.

Phantom shift: The feeling of having or expecting to have a specific limb of your therio/kintype that your human body does not have, comparable to a phantom limb. The sensation can fluctuate from a tingling feeling to a well defined limb that interacts with the physical world, depending on the person and moment.

Sensory shift: A shift in the focus of your sensory input to the generally more important or used senses of your therio-/kintype. This, to some, can make a Therian/Otherkin feel as if their senses are heightened and therefore working better than usual.

Perception shift: A shift in one's perception about outside world factors or self-image. The therian perceives things in a way which is more associated with their animal side and this perception occurs (at least initially) on a subconscious level. The human logic is often replaced by the theriotype's logic, and it's often experienced as a sudden and jarring (de)realization.

Astral shift: Mainly seen in meditation and disassociation, this shift is the experience of leaving your human body as your therio-/kintype and entering the Astral Plane. This is a spiritual related shift that requires to believe in the Astral Plane or anything alike.

Aura shift: This occurs when the shape or form of an auric field or life energy field changes to that of the theriotype. This is a spiritual related shift that it requires the belief in auras which are considered paranormal.

Dream shift: The experience of being your therio-/kintype, or experiencing any other shift, in your dreams, whether this be first or third person (not second!).

Bi-locational shift: The feeling of being at two places at the same time, often being the natural habitat of your therio/kintype. It's often experienced as an overlap of sensory input or a vivid daydream.

Cameo shift: Experiencing any kind of shift that does not align with your own therio-/kintype. (Recently the unofficial term 'cameotype' was created for those who have frequently returning cameoshifts from a certain species, but they don't identify with/as this animal/creature in any way). This often happens to kithtypes (See: Otherhearted).

Shift trigger: Any form of trigger that can cause a shift. Common ones being music, taking hikes, and natural habitat.

Self-induced/voluntary shift: A shift that has been consciously triggered by choice. These types of shifts are not reliable when looking for a therio/kintype.

Flicker: An alterhuman identity that is seen as temporary.

KINDS OF ALTERHUMANS

Polytherian/polykin: A person who identifies as more than one being, therefore having more than one therio-/kintype.

Contherian: A person who experiences being in a constant state of shift. Contherians are always shifted without change.

Suntherian: A person who experiences a constant shift between their human and animal-selves, but this state of shift can fluctuate per situation or mood (and therefore they can also 'shift' to a more human state). The Otherkin community often uses the term 'Vacillant' as an Otherkin version of the term.

Cladotherian: A person who does not identify as a specific species per se but rather a whole clade (example: not a wolf, but all canines)

Paleotherian: A person who identifies as an animal that has gone extinct.

Polymorph: A person who's identity is fluid or keeps changing, but each identity or experience has the same range of intensity and/or severity.

Shapeshifter: Not to be mistaken by "polymorph", someone with a shapeshifter identity identifies as a mythical being with the ability to physically shift into any or a specific set of beings, such as Faeries and Kitsunes.

Copingkin: An alter-human who involuntarily got their non-human identity to cope with their life or traumatic events from the past. Not to be mistaken by Copinglinkers (see 'Identities')

Humanoid kintypes (Vampires, Elves, Dwarfs, etc): Otherkin who identify as a humanoid kintype, the difference being they can believe they are also physically non-human.

OTHER

Gear: Objects that holds meaning to your therianthropy/otherkinnity or that can trigger shifts. The object often has to do with your therio-/kintype and it is often worn as accessories. Any object can be considered gear, however.

Den: A common word in the Therian community meaning a safe haven or little corner where a person can retrieve from the social human world and be themselves. It is often associated with a cozy place or plain territory.

Territory: A common word in the Therian community meaning an area/space that is considered to be property of the Therian. Some can feel highly protective over it. This can be your own home or a place in the forest claimed as yours.

Therian packs: A friend group of therians who often hang out together, online or in real life.

Howl: Common term used for a Therian meet-up that lasts longer than a day.

Greymuzzle: A term used to describe a person who has been in the Therian community for +/- 10 years and has done a consistent amount of contribution to the community.