therianthropes

Therianthropy is the belief or phenomenon in which a human is believed to transform into an animal, or to identify with an animal form, either physically, mentally, or spiritually. The term combines Greek roots meaning “wild beast” and “human,” and it is used to describe both mythic shapeshifting and contemporary identifications with animal identities. In many traditional cultures, shapeshifters appear in folklore and myth, including figures who take on animal forms or act as animal guardians, spirits, or totems. Lycanthropy, the best-known subtype in Western folklore, refers specifically to human transformation into a wolf, but many other animal transformations are described in various traditions.

In modern contexts, therianthropy also denotes a perceptual or identity phenomenon among some people who describe themselves as “therians” or “therrians.” Proponents may report a persistent sense of animal identity, shifts in mood or sensation, or a felt kinship with non-human animals. Experiences are personal and vary widely, and the community often emphasizes recognition of individual experience, ethics, and sometimes animal advocacy. Therianthropy is not supported as a scientifically proven biological process, and it is not considered a mental disorder; rather, it is typically described as a belief system, spiritual or psychological identity, or subcultural movement.

Scholarly attention treats therianthropy as part of broader studies of shapeshifting, myth, and human–animal relations. It intersects folklore, religion, anthropology, and gender or identity studies, illustrating how cultures and individuals understand humanity’s relationship to animals. The term is distinct from literal somatic metamorphosis, focusing instead on symbolic, experiential, or identity-based transformations.