Otherkin

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Otherkin is a collective term for an assortment of people who have reached the conclusion that they (spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically) are something other than human.

The otherkin subculture is made up of people who usually believe themselves to be mythological or legendary creatures. It deserves to be noted that Otherkin is just a label to describe personal beliefs, experiences, and traits that occur in a variety of combinations depending on the individual. As there is no consensus on what qualifies as Otherkin, not everyone who shares similar beliefs feels the term is appropriate or useful for themselves. The word is an Internet-derived neologism primarily used by members of that subculture and is somewhat fluid in definition, sometimes being broadened to also describe those who consider themselves to be animals, aliens, extradimensional beings, and other non-human entities.

The general consensus of Otherkin shows the majority seem to have memories of a past life as another specific entity, usually a sentient being. A Therian on the other hand, typically describes their Therian nature not as a past life or a specific entity, but an animal type in general.

While, by this definition, Therianthropes fall into the Otherkin classification, there is a distinguishable difference between the two groups. Whereas most Otherkin are of mythical creatures, Therians are strictly animalistic and recognize their humanity as being an integral part of their existance.

With the basic premiss of the Otherkin concept, there has been skepticism directed at it along with the proposal that many people adopt the Otherkin identity to justify social difficulties - the outcast syndrome - or because they have a delusion and are in denial about their biological humanity. The idea that Otherkin believe they are physically non-human in a spectacular way - such as actually being biological dragons - is seen as a surprising yet pervasive misunderstanding among Otherkin themselves, who point out the spiritual and psychological focus of the concept.

It has been postulated within the community that this confusion arises from those unfamiliar with the concept or having only a sketchy and perhaps distorted awareness; comparing it to psychiatric cases such as lycanthropy and dissociative identity disorder, concluding that in order for someone to state that they identify as an elf or gryphon, they must be experiencing a form of hallucination or delusion.