Powers

Most therianthropes -do not- have heightened senses nor do they possess traits like unusually sharp teeth, strange eye color, claws, etc. Therianthropes do not have the ability to physically change into animals, nor are they anything akin to werewolves, vampires, or any other such monstrous creatures. Therianthropy is a spiritual-mental experience and does not involve any sort of supernatural abilities or traits.

Degree of identification

In either case, the identification with the non-human animal may be partial, as in those who regard themselves as having both human and non-human attributes, or complete, as in those who regard themselves as essentially non-human animals in human bodies. The terms species dysphoria and transspeciesism have occasionally been used to refer to the latter phenomenon, in parallel with the concepts of gender dysphoria and transsexuality.

Species involved

Most therians identify with a single type of non-human animal, but there are some who identify with more than one — sometimes related animals, as in several different species of feline or canine, for example, but sometimes completely dissimilar animals. Those who identify with all members of one family — for instance, someone who claims to have characteristics of all felines — is called a cladotherianthrope.

The species of non-human animal with which a particular therian identifies is sometimes referred to as that person's theriotype or phenotype. The term phenotype was originally more common but has fallen into disuse because it also refers to physical appearance. This animal side can be really any animal, most common are predatory animals such as wolves, bears, foxes, jaguars, tigers, and cougars, but there are also reptiles, avians, other mammals, and insects. just to name a few.

Because the majority of therianthropes identify often as big cats and wolves, some skeptics argue that, because of the preponderance of predators or other dangerous species, most therians are purposefully or unconsciously claiming inner association with impressive animals for ego-based purposes. There are also some individuals who identify with mythical species (e.g. dragons, elves, gryphons, centaurs and so forth), but those who fit more in the otherkin community than the therian community.

Perceptive changes and integration/separation

The different sides of a therian have some element of distinct and different processes and ways of being. The term shifting is often used to signify aspects of the collective shift of perceptions and cognitive outlook, and the changes to how they experience the world, following a change from human to non-human outlook or back. So for example, mental shift would describe the change within the cognitive and mental processes. This may be voluntary or involuntary, partial or complete, substantial or subtle, or may vary. Thus it generally refers to any manner by which, in changing this way, a therianthrope's nature is evidenced internally (to themselves) or externally to others.

A controversial aspect of therianthropy is the subject of physical shifting (ie shapeshifting). Few people within the subculture doubt that shifts of mental and emotional perception may occur, however some therianthropes also claim to experience a subtle or gross physical change to their appearance. Whilst subtle physical and internal changes are everyday effects of mood and personality changes (eg eye focus, skin color, perceptions, neurological patterns and habits), most people, both in the therianthrope subculture and outside it, would seriously doubt that gross body changes to physical form can actually occur in this way.