From The Otherkin Community

Brainstorming Discussion

This page is for brainstorming ideas for The Otherkin Identity. Please keep in mind the following when adding content to this page: This page may contain both ideas and discussions. Each new section should be considered a proposal and should be marked with {{Brainstorm_proposal}}. Once the conductors have accepted a proposal, the proposal template should be replaced with {{Brainstorm_accepted}}. Once the brainstorm is complete, please create The Otherkin Identity Blueprint. Approved ideas should not be modified. If you wish to amend them, please add to them. This should be placed on brainstorm pages only, please.

The Otherkin Identity will be a research project headed by The Otherkin Community. It is meant to be a tool used to gather information regarding Otherkin for statistical analysis and the production of raw data for analysis by third parties. The data will be entirely anonymous unless otherwise stated by the owner. The Otherkin Identity will be the first large-scale research project into the Otherkin identity, hopefully providing important insight on Otherkin psychology, geography, personality, social factors and many other areas. The goal is to answer long-held questions about this fairly new field.

The name comes from Clodaus' assertion that the term "Otherkin" is best described as an identity, augmenting existing beliefs, opinions and other important factors^[Hypothesis].

	Download as PDF
	A presentation is also available: oki-draft.pdf Please update the PDF when updating this article.

Contents 1 Means of Identification 1.1 Psychological Identity 1.2 Spiritual Identity 1.3 Historical Identity 1.4 Physical Identity 1.5 The Human Identity 2 Scope of Identity 2.1 Individual Identity 2.2 Group Identity 2.3 Race Identity 3 Notes

[edit] Means of Identification

(Proposal)

Individuals can identify as Otherkin on a number of different levels^[Hypothesis]:

• Psychological
• Spiritual
• Historical
• Physical

The hypothesis is that those four factors account for an accepted form of identity by members of the Otherkin community as a whole. Any individual may identify as Otherkin and may hold more than one identity. This hypothesis will serve as the foundation for OtherkinIdentity.org, but will be adjusted if results show that the hypothesis is lacking or incorrect.

[edit] Psychological Identity

The most basic form of identity, in that it requires no evidence and can be adopted by any individual, is the psychological identity. In this identity, individuals identify with certain traits and stereotypes commonly associated with their race(s).

• Not a belief
  • Psychological identity requires no evidence. It is simply how one thinks.
• Anyone can identify as Otherkin in this way
  • There is no argument to refute. Since this identity is purely psychological, there is no way somebody can state "you're wrong!". There is nothing to be wrong about.

[edit] Spiritual Identity

The spiritual identity is based firmly on belief. As there is currently no conclusive means to represent concepts such as the "soul" or "consciousness", which is a prerequisite for this identity, there is no firm way to provide evidence to support it as anything more than belief.

• Often based on personal experiences, which are a very important factor. If no evidence can be given to "prove" that one is "spiritually Otherkin", one must provide that evidence to him/her/itself^[1].
• Believe that their "soul", "consciousness", or some other non-physical aspect is in some way non-human.
• Often, but not always, associated with the Historical identity.

[edit] Historical Identity

The term "historical" is used to denote a key difference between the Spiritual identity. Individuals of this identity believe that, in a past life, they were non-human. There is an important distinction between this identity and Spiritual because one can believe that they were Otherkin in a past life, but may not believe that they are currently in some way non-human on a non-physical level.

• Relies on the belief of past lives
  • Hints at a connection with the Spiritual identity, but the beliefs do not always coincide.

[edit] Physical Identity

Otherkin who identify on a physical level assert that their physical body is in some way non-human. This is an assertion that is rarely tested.

• Often acquired through confusion or misconception
  • Most Otherkin recognize that their physical body is fully human in this life.
  • We cannot dismiss the possibility that there do exist physically non-human Otherkin, as there is no way to prove that hypothesis.
• A very rare identity.

[edit] The Human Identity

So how do individuals identify as Otherkin, existing as human beings?

• The majority of Otherkin (all but those who identify physically) recognize that they are physically human in this life.
• Nearly all Otherkin in some way have a Psychological identity.
  • The other identities lead to traits being reflected physically due to psychological factors. It's difficult to identify with something without somehow displaying that identity physically.
    • Therefore, as a consequence, the Psychological identity is demonstrated.

[edit] Scope of Identity

(Proposal)

Ultimately, OKI (The Otherkin Identity) focuses on the individual identity. However, the individual identity can stem from a number of factors, including the identities of groups and even races. Studying the traits of groups and races can help to determine how individuals arrive at their own personal identities.

[edit] Individual Identity

Each identity is unique to the individual. No two people share the exact same identities and beliefs. This is because, as the previously mentioned hypothesis states, the Otherkin identity augments existing beliefs, personalities and other traits. It is simply another way to describe an individual.

• Individual identity is often derived from a common identity through culture, stereotypes and peers^[Hypothesis].
• Otherkin is not a belief system.
  • It can augment existing beliefs, opinions and personalities.
  • One can be, for example, Christian and Otherkin
  • Consequently, each individual holds a unique identity.

[edit] Group Identity

Groups of individuals can share very similar identities, which is what forms the bond of a specific group. Common factors. Sometimes these groups express themselves in subcultures. Examples may be certain members of the Vampire community who identify as Otherkin (not all do).

• Whether individual identity is encouraged for conformed is up to the group.
  • That is, certain groups may be more open to exploring individual identity than others. Organized groups (for example, religion) may place certain restrictions.
• Groups can often be the basis for individual identity, serving as a foundation on which the individual identity is built.

[edit] Race Identity

Otherkin often identify with one or more races. These races have a number of different origins:

• History/Mythology
• Fantasy^[2]
• Animal Kingdom^[3]
• Personal Experiences^[4]
• ...

Some Otherkin do identify as human. This may seem odd, since the term "Otherkin" hints toward non-human qualities. Indeed, identifying as purely human with no non-human qualities and stating that one is "Otherkin" would create a term that contains every living being, which makes it unnecessarily redundant. Generally speaking, those who identify as human do identify with certain non-human qualities, which may be simply psychological^{[Citation Needed]}.

[edit] Notes

1. ↑ "Itself" is included with "him/her" because some Otherkin either do not choose to identify as a certain sex/gender, or may identify as both.
2. ↑ If one identifies as Otherkin reference a "race" from a fantasy, they often believe that the fantasy has firm roots within reality.
3. ↑ e.g. Therian
4. ↑ Some Otherkin identify as a race that isn't quite defined. Rather, they may (for example) remember a race from a past life, or create their own psychologically.