Otherkin

{{significantly problematic}}{{Psychology}}
'''Otherkin''' are people who claim to be spiritually or mentally non-[[human]]. The term can either exclude or encompass those that identify as animals that have verifiably existed on this planet (called [[therian]]s), but always includes everyone who identifies themselves as something other than human, including mythological creatures, extraterrestrials, and inanimate objects. Some may identify as fictional characters.

Otherkin have been called one of the world's most bizarre subcultures,<ref>Lancaster, Geoffrey; Massingham, Lester (2010). ''Essentials of Marketing Management''. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 0415553466.</ref> and a "quasi-religion"<ref name=kirby /> that "largely only exists on the [[Internet]]".<ref>Dawson, Lorne L.; Hennebry, Jenna. "New Religions and The Internet: Recruiting in A New Public Space". Essay published in several books:
* Lori G. Beaman. ''Religion and Canadian Society: Traditions, Transitions, and Innovations''. Canadian Scholars' Press, 2006. ISBN 155130306X
* Lorne L. Dawson; Douglas E. Cowan. ''Religion Online: Finding Faith on the Internet''. Routledge, 2004. ISBN 0415970210
* Lorne L. Dawson. ''Cults and New Religious Movements: A Reader''. John Wiley & Sons, 2003. ISBN 1405101814</ref> Although Otherkin [[belief]]s deviate from the definition of [[religion]] (in that otherkin belief is independent of belief in a higher power), they share religion's primary interest in the unprovable.<ref name=kirby>Kirby, Danielle (2009). "From Pulp Fiction to Revealed Text: A Study of the Role of the Text in the Otherkin Community" in ''Exploring Religion And The Sacred in A Media Age'' (editors Christopher Deacy; Elisabeth Arweck). Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 0754665275
</ref>

==History and subsets==
The otherkin subculture grew out of the elven online communities of the early-to-mid-1990s. The first recorded use of the word "otherkin" appeared in July 1990 and the variant ''otherkind'' was reported as early as April 1990. The word "otherkind" was initially coined from the word "elfinkind", to refer to non-elf others who joined the communities.<ref>[http://orion.kitsunet.net/time.pdf Otherkin Timeline: The Recent History of Elfin, Fae, and Animal People]</ref>

===Therians===
{{Main|Therian}}
Therians are a similar subculture, identifying as animals of species that have verifiably existed on Earth. Otherkin usually consider therians to be a subgroup of otherkin, though some therians prefer to distance themselves from otherkin.<ref>[http://felkes.tumblr.com/post/20921959198/ive-gotten-sick-of-pointing-this-out-so-im-just Therians Against Merging Terminology]. felkes.tumblr.com</ref>

In 1994 the term "therianthropy" was just coming into use because some felt [[lycanthropy]] was wolf-centric and wanted something to include other species. "Therian" and "thrope" are shortened versions of "therianthropy" and also came about into common use around 1994-1995.

===Fictionkin===
Fictionkin are people who identify as either fictional characters or members of a fictional species.<ref>http://fictionkin.net</ref> Most otherkin are incredulous of them.{{cn}} Conversely, fictionkin are widely accepted by soulbonders.<ref name=sbfiction>http://www.soulbonding.net/fictionkin/</ref> Otakukin are people who think they are reincarnations of fictitious characters from Japanese anime, manga, and video games.

Like some other otherkin, some fictionkin also explain their existence with reincarnation, believing that fictions have been realities in other dimensions.<ref name=sbfiction /> This of course strongly implies that original fiction writers do not really deserve the credit for creating their characters, leading to some interesting discussions around copyright law and intellectual theft.<ref>[http://okamp.tumblr.com/tagged/intellectual-property/chrono Intellectual property posts]</ref>

==Beliefs==
Most otherkin are aware that their body is human, instead they identify as non-human by separating their identity and their body, some give spiritual explanations for this, and others explain it with psychology or neurodivergence.

===Body dysphoria and other-limbs===
Some otherkin suffer from psychological discomfort due to feeling trapped in the wrong body. Reportedly,{{where}} some even experience psychosomatic symptoms of sensations in non-existent wings, tails, and other body parts.{{citation needed}}

Some otherkin claim to experience bodily dysphoria and even to feel the existence of body parts that aren't really there. It has been argued that the use of terms like "phantom limbs" in a frivolous manner is offensive to amputees and transgender people.<ref>http://dieantrim.tumblr.com/post/22830385453/kanishtaa-naijuuk-what-does-it-even-fucking-matter {{broken}}</ref> Some use "meta-limbs" and "other-limbs" as alternative terms.

''Scientific American'' describes supernumerary phantom limbs (SPL) as being an even rarer condition than [[body integrity dysphoria]] (in which people want to have one or more of their limbs amputated as they feel these limbs do not belong to them), and that it usually occurs following a stroke. Mostly this feels much the same as the phantom limbs of amputees — an illusion, from which sensations sometimes emanate. In a small number of cases patients report that they can also see, feel and use the limb. This phenomenon has not been investigated thoroughly, because there are so few reported cases.<ref>''Scientific American''. April 14, 2009. [http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=body-integrity-identity-disorder The Mind-Body Problem]</ref>

There is an overlap with the extreme body modification subculture; numerous cases exist of people getting extreme plastic surgery to resemble the animal or monster that they identify with or as.

===Physical shifting===
{{cquote|One person even said their toes were swelling up and turning color, and that they itched and ached. So many people said "shifting!" and I actually bothered to look those symptoms up and found a thing known as chilblains which is a form of athlete's foot I think, and guess what? That chick's symptoms match chilblains to a T.|||Just An'otherkin<ref>[http://justanotherkin.tumblr.com/post/71191469631/the-problem-with-the-perpetuating-belief-in The problem with P-Shifting] Just another otherkin</ref>}}

Physical shifting or p-shifting is when otherkin physically shape shift into their kintype. This is of course impossible and dangerous. Symptoms of illnesses are ignored as they may be signs of p-shifting. Thankfully, most otherkin know that p-shifting is impossible, and they warn children against it.<ref>[http://therian.wikia.com/wiki/Physical_shift Physical Shift] Therian Wikia</ref><ref>[http://thegreenwolf.tumblr.com/post/26638052677/why-physical-shapeshifting-is-bollocks Why Physical Shifting is Bollocks] The Green Wolf Tumblr</ref><ref>[https://dreamhart.org/2012/01/a-revised-otherkin-faq/#youre-still-allowed-to-apply-critical-thinking A revised Otherkin FAQ]</ref><ref>[http://victiim-of-changes.tumblr.com/post/155589622110/whats-physical-shifting What is Physical Shifting?]</ref> Unfortunately, many young otherkin are falling for the myth that p-shifting is possible.

===Cultural influences===
If it wasn't blatantly obvious, otherkin beliefs are strongly influenced by culture, rather than by actually being an animal or mythical creature (now or in a past life).

* Most otherkin with real-life-animal kintypes identify as those that are perceived to be "cool," "majestic," "cute," etc., or symbolic in Western (or Japanese or First Nations) culture, such as wolves, foxes, coyotes, big cats, dolphins, or eagles. Real animal otherkin rarely identify as insects, nuisance animals, parasites, crustaceans, or single-celled organisms, although these make up the majority of known animal species. 
* Similarly, those who identify as mythological beings, species, or races, focus tends to be on those that are perceived as mystical and/or aesthetically appealing, such as dragons, elves, fae, angels, mermaids, and so on. For example, Japanese ''{{wpl|Kitsune}}'' and Celtic ''{{wpl|Cat sìth}}'' tend to be more popular choices from their respective cultures than, say, the bald and monstrous ''{{wpl|Umibōzu}}'' or cyclops-esque ''{{wpl|Fachan}}''.
** Even then, more import is given to romanticized or culture-influenced versions of said species rather than folklore (e.g., angels that are beautiful humans with wings as if plucked from a Renaissance painting, versus the angels that are described as multi-winged monstrosities "covered with eyes all around, even under its wings" in the book of Revelation). 
* For those who identify as real animals, experiences and feelings are often colored by the person's perception of the animal. For instance, wolf otherkin may talk of being "alphas" or "omegas," or being fiercely devoted hunters. In real life, however, the concept of "Greek letter" wolf hierarchies has long been debunked and studies suggest a good number of freeloaders in larger packs.<ref>[https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70032262 MacNulty, et al., "Nonlinear effects of group size on the success of wolves hunting elk." ''Behavioral Ecology.'']</ref> We don't truly understand the animals and their thought processes enough to know how someone can identify as one of them.

==Confusing otherkin and trans people==
Otherkin are often confused with [[transgender]] individuals, despite the fact that the two are in no way related, and that the transgender identity is supported by both science and law.

However, some otherkin are known to make the comparison themselves, and many of them claim to be engaged in a "civil rights struggle" — while critics argue that they are delusional or mentally ill.<ref name="gawker">{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://gawker.com/5940947/from-otherkin-to-transethnicity-your-field-guide-to-the-weird-world-of-tumblr-identity-politics|title=Otherkin to Transethnicity: Your Field Guide to the Weird World of Tumblr Identity Politics}}</ref>

Many modern [[reactionary|reactionaries]] argue that, [[Slippery slope|if we accept trans people, then we must also accept otherkins]]. This unfair but common comparison is a clear example of the slippery slope fallacy.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoUORx0LeIc</ref>

==Stretching the definition==
A more broad definition of "otherkin" that's appeared in recent years refers to anyone who "believes that their physical forms do not define or fully encompass their mental states, personality, psychology, or spiritual nature." So... recognize that you're bound to a mortal coil that will never fully represent you, and happen to think "wow, wouldn't it be so much cooler if I weren't human"? Congratulations! You're now being grouped with the same people trying to claim this is the result of ineptitude on behalf of the great celestial bureaucracy in the sky, and their imagination is supposed to represent reality. Now come pop some LSD tablets with us, won't you?

===Confusing otherkin and furries===
[[Furry fandom|Furries]] are people who identify with an animal character (usually anthropomorphic) or "fursona", ''while knowing that form of identity is purely fictional'', and knowing they're just humans supposing what it would be like to be non-human. Furries are aware their identity does not reflect (nor was ever meant to reflect) reality, even for the small percentage who can afford and are willing to wear a fursuit. (Some assert otherwise in a tongue-in-cheek manner in spaces where otherkin are not prevalent and they don't have to explain they aren't one, or if roleplaying.) Otherkin, on the contrary, insist they have been incorrectly born into a human body and that they were literally meant to be born as something else, often incorporating pseudoscientific spiritual rubbish to justify the notion (e.g. "born in the wrong universe" if their supposed identity is based in fiction or can't physically exist).

Furries who have [[dissociative identity disorder]] and have developed a {{wpl|Method_of_loci}}-esque mental location as a way of meeting up may be represented "internally" as their own character. (Which is pretty natural - in a purely imaginary place past the realm of possibility, you can be pretty much whatever you want.) Confusingly, this is also referred to as being "otherkin", but as long as they're not trying to justify this as somehow being real in a parallel universe or other plane of existence or past life, they're actually far too sane to qualify.

There may exist an overlap in furries and otherkin for people who believe they are somehow "supposed to be" an anthropomorphic animal (or, at the least, an animal with human intelligence) or express themselves as a furry to cope with their belief.

Similarly, the terms "kin" and "kinning" are sometimes used to describe identification with a fictional character. As with furries, this does not necessarily involve believing one is ''literally'' meant to be one and the same as a character when reality shows otherwise.

==See also==
*[[Debate:Otherkin]]
*[[Therian]]
*[[Furry fandom]]
*[[Lycanthropy]]

==External lynx==
*{{wpa|Body dysmorphic disorder}}
*{{wpa|Species dysphoria}}
*[http://otherkin.wiki Otherkin Wiki]
*[http://www.vice.com/read/from-dragons-to-foxes-the-otherkin-community-believes-you-can-be-whatever-you-want-to-be ''Vice'' article on otherkin]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Culture]]
[[Category:Internet culture]]
[[Category:Mythology]]
[[Category:Mental health]]
[[Category:Woo]]

Categories: Animals, Culture, Internet culture, Mythology, Mental health, Woo