Terminology

lots of lovely confusing terms, don't you just love them

It's human nature to catalogue and label things. It's what we do. How our minds work. So naturally there are many different and fancy terms that surround therianthropy. Are all of the terms needed? Probably not. Personally I don't like the terms too much so they're not often used on this website. But they exist just the same so I might as well list them for all of the confused people out there.
I've probably missed out a few. I'll add any new terms as and when I think of them.
REMEMBER: Terms are terms. They are not labels to slap on yourself. You can not just say 'I'm a wolf contherian' and that be the end of it. Terms are there to make life easier, to shorten long and drawn out explanations into a simple word. But in order to shorten something, you must first know what that thing is and why it applies to you.

Therianthropy
From the Greek therion meaning "wild animal" and anthropos meaning "man".
The belief that a core part of yourself is in some way, be it mentally or spiritually, a non-human animal. A state of being.

Therianthrope
An individual who holds the belief of therianthropy.

Therian
A short term for therianthrope.

Were
Another term for therian. This was once the popular term used to refer to therians, though in recent years it's use is gradually phasing out due to the 'Hollywood werewolf' stereotypes associated with the word.

Theriotype
Refers to the animal the therian believes they are. For example a therian who believes they have the soul of a timber wolf would say that their theriotype was the timber wolf.

Therioside
Means the same thing as theriotype.

Phenotype
Another word for theriotype. This is gradually being phased out as it is felt that theriotype is a more accurate version of the word.

Mental Therianthropy
This refers to therians who have a deep connection to their therioside which effects their mindset during day to day life. Their wereside may influence their natural instincts, personality, temperament, actions and habits.
For example the individual may hiss or growl when startled, have the urge to chase or stalk small animals, subconsiously sniff at objects or test the air for scents, growl or bare teeth when annoyed.
It is possible to be both a mental and spiritual therianthrope.

Spiritual Therianthropy
A spiritual therianthrope is an individual who feels their therioside is a core part of their spiritual self. This may influence their self identification and knowledge. While their therioside may not manifest itself visably, such as the examples mentioned for mental therianthropy, it is still an important and integral part of themselves.
It is possible to be both a mental and spiritual therianthrope.

Polly
Some therians feel that rather then being connected with a single animal they are connected to two or more(it is very rare for the number to go above three) separate animals. For example a therian may feel that they are both horse and tiger. This therian would be referred to as being polly.

Hybrid
Some therians may have more then one theriotype but rather then these being separate they may have merged together. For example a therian with wolf and eagle theriotypes may feel their therioside represents itself as a 'hybrid' of the two, forming a gryphon-like creature.
There is some controversy surrounding this term as it's felt that the word hybrid gives the wrong impression; in therianthropic terms it is used to describe the merging of two species, however in biological terms it refers to the offspring produced by two different species mating.

Cladotherian
A therianthrope who feels that rather then having a specific theriotype they are connected to a whole genus. This seems to have quite a bad stigma attached to it as it has often been used by posers trying to seem 'cool', by therians who are too lazy to narrow their theriotype down to one species or by therians who for whatever reason are unable to narrow it down further. There are however a few serious cladotherians within the community, myself included.

Shift
A shift is a change in state. Changing from one thing to another. There are many different types of therianthropic shifts. I've listed most of them below. While shifting is common among therians, not all therians shift and you do not have to be therian to experience shifts.

Mental Shift
Also known as the m-shift. A m-shift is a change in mental state, shifting from human to animal and vice versa. While experiencing an m-shift the therian will take on a more animalistic perspective, often finding their actions and instincts are more influenced by their animals selves.

Perception Shift
A perception shift is where the shifters perception of themselves changes. They may subconsciously begin to view themselves as their theriotype. To give an example, I was walking through a shopping mall one time when I began to slip into the perception that I was a large cat. I could feel the way my feline body moved as I walked along and while I was in a lazy daydreamy state my mind believed I was a feline. I then passed a mirror and glancing into it froze puzzled for a moment as I stared at my reflection. It was just a split second of confusion as I saw a human staring back at me, rather then a feline.

Phantom Shift
Also known as the ph-shift. This is where the shifter feels phantom limbs belonging to their theriotype. They are normally able to feel sensation in these limbs and to control them as though they were real, though obviously they are simply phantoms and hold no physical reality. For example while shifted you may feel animal ears atop your head, perhaps a tail swaying as you move or wings that fold over your back.

Dream Shift
A dream shift, quite obviously is a shift that takes place in a dream. The shifter may dream of themselves as a certain animal, a cross between a human and an animal or they may see themselves as a human with the ability to shift into an animal.

Physical Shift
A physical shift, also known as the infamous p-shift, would be where a human transformed fully or partially into a non-human animal. While there are those who claim to be able to complete this magical fete there has never been any proof to indicate such a shift is possible. It is generally accepted among the sane, rational members of the community that physical shifting is nothing more then a myth, a delusion or wishful thinking.

Cameo Shift
A cameo shift can be any of the above (and any other types of shifts I've so far neglected to add). It is a shift that can be to any animal, anything. It may or may not hold some deep spiritual or symbolic meaning. Cameo shifts have little, if anything to do with therianthropy. A tiger therian may ph-shift to feel wolf features, this does not make them a wolf. A non-therian may have repeated dreams that they're a fox. Anyone can cameo shift. They are often the result of an overactive imagination, often being random events that have little significance to the individual. Though sometimes they may hold greater meaning.

Contherianthropy
Contherians have a single 'humananimal' mindset. They have no 'sides' or separation, they are simply a whole. As they have a singular mindset contherians do not shift, because they have nothing to shift to. It is important to note though that while contherians do not shift, not shifting does not make you contherian. Also, they may experience cameo shifts as these are not tied in with therianthropy.

Dichotomistic Therianthropy
Dichotomistic therians view their therioside as being more seperate from their human side. There is generally very little or no merging of the two sides, however each side is still an integral part of the individual and is in no way seperate from theirself.

Vacilliant Therianthropy
Vacilliant therianthropy is used to describe therians who like contherians have a singular mindset however they experince 'mood swing' like feelings which sway mildly between human and animal but they do not experience full shifts. They may still cameo shift, though.

Suntherianthropy
Suntherianthropy is often used in the same way as vacilliant therianthropy. Though it was created by an individual to describe their personal therianthropy and so is really more like a subset, being more limited to the experiences/feelings of that individual.

Denial
Most therians will have, at some point, gone through a stage of denial about what they are. Accepting you are, in some way, a non-human animal is not an easy thing to do.

Soul Searching
This is something you'll probably hear a lot. Soul Searching is the term used to describe research, meditation, introspection, questioning, doubt and anything else that deepens your self understanding and knowledge. Soul searching is not a quick and easy task, it is something that takes many months, often years. Actually, it's something that could last a lifetime.

Velvet Wings
1st April 2007

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