Product Code Database
Otherkin is a subculture of individuals who identify as partially or entirely Non-human. Some otherkin believe their identity derives from non-physical Spirituality, such as having a nonhuman soul or reincarnation. Some otherkin give non-spiritual explanations for themselves, such as unusual psychology or neurodiversity, or as part of dissociative identity disorder or being plural.Schechter, Elizabeth. 2024. "Introducing Plurals." Journal of Cognition and Neuroethics 9 (2): 95–141. Many otherkin say they are physically human.
The otherkin subculture developed primarily as an online community during the 1990s. It had partly grown out of some small groups of people who described themselves as Elf during the 1970s and 1980s. During the late 2000s, the word has come to be treated as an umbrella term for some other nonhuman identity subcultures.
Coincidentally, the word "otherkin" also existed in the Middle English language. The Middle English Dictionary (1981) defines the adjective "otherkin" as "a different or an additional kind of, other kinds of".
The term "therianthrope" commonly called "therian" refers to individuals who identify as an animal on any level, whether it be spiritual, psychological, or even physical. The species of animal a therian identifies as is called a theriotype. While therians mainly attribute their experiences of therianthropy to either spirituality or psychology, the way in which they consider their therian identity is not a defining characteristic of therianthropy. The identity "transspecies" is used by some.
Something specific an otherkin identifies as is called a kintype. A common grammatical construct within the otherkin community is to add the suffix -kin to the end of what they identify as, making it a personal identifier. For example, someone who identifies as a dragon may be called "dragonkin". Someone who strongly identifies with but not as an animal or other entity is called "otherhearted." For example, someone who identifies with dogs may be called "doghearted."
The therian and vampire subcultures are related to the otherkin community, and are considered part of it by most otherkin but are culturally and historically distinct movements of their own, despite some overlap in membership. The word "alterhuman" exists as an umbrella term which intends to encompass all of these subcultures, as well as others such as plurality.
Some otherkin claim to be especially empathic and attuned to nature. Some claim to be able to shapeshifting mentally or astrally, meaning that they experience the sense of being in their particular form while not actually changing physically. Moreover, the claim to be able to physically shift is generally looked down on by the community. They may also describe being able to feel phantom limbs/wings/tails/horns, that coordinates with their kintype. Some otherkin claim to also go through an 'awakening' that alerts them to their kintype.
Many otherkin believe in the existence of a multitude of Possible world, and their belief in the existence of supernatural or Sapience non-human beings is grounded in that idea.
In 2011, the International Anthropomorphic Research Project (IARP), a Canada-United States multidisciplinary research group, expanded the scope of its annual International Furry Survey to include otherkin and therians for the first time.
From 2016 onwards, otherkin research has taken more of a narrative identity approach, investigating how otherkin come to understand their experiences. Reviewing prior research, Stephanie C. Shea criticizes the prevailing conception of the otherkin subculture as being, or being alike to, either a religion or a spirituality.
In four surveys of Furry fandom (with a sample size of 4338, 1761, 951 and 1065 respectively), depending on the sample, between 25% and 44% responded that they consider themselves to be "less than 100% human", compared to 7% of a sample of 802 non-furries surveyed at .
Otherkin have been called one of the world's most bizarre , and a religious movement (or a "quasi-religion") that "in some of its forms, largely only exists on the Internet".Dawson, Lorne L.; Hennebry, Jenna. "New Religions and The Internet: Recruiting in A New Public Space". Essay published in several books:
Although otherkin beliefs deviate from the definition of "religion", many individuals share the primary interest in the paranormal, but many do not.
Joseph P. Laycock argues that the otherkin community serves existential and social functions commonly associated with religion, and regards it as an alternative nomos that sustains alternate Ontology.Joseph P. Laycock. "We Are Spirits of Another Sort": Ontological Rebellion and Religious Dimensions of the Otherkin Community . Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions. Vol. 15, No. 3 (February 2012), pp. 65–90. University of California Press Professor Jay Johnston feels that nonhuman identity "is perhaps not so much pathological as political".
According to Nick Mamatas, they represent a dissatisfaction with the modern world, and they have taken fairy lore out of its original context.
|
|
