The noun/term 'therianthropy' is used to refer to the intrinsic experience surrounding someone's therian identity. It is the term used to encapsulate the broader experience, while the term 'therianthrope' (someone who involuntarily identifies as a non-human animalistic creature) refers to the individual who experiences it. Some therians don't know what causes them to identify as non-human, but it is commonly known and accepted that therianthropy in itself is not a choice. It is also agreed upon that a therian can not pick or choose their theriotype/theriotypes.

And many (but not all) therians identify as currently living animals, though it is not uncommon to see therianthropes who identify as extinct animals (paleotherian), fictional creatures (fictherian), or even animals that are considered mythical (theriomythic). It is also relatively common and entirely possible for a therian to have more than one theriotype; individuals that experience this are known as polytherians.

The therian community (and broader alterhuman community) use a wide variety of symbols to represent themselves. The symbol most often associated with the therian community is the Theta-Delta. It includes and represents all therianthropic identities.

"You must be born a therian"

A common misconception in therianthropy is that you must be born a therian.

"Therians and furries are the same thing"

Furry is a term to describe someone who takes an interest or finds enjoyment in the concept of anthropomorphic animals/creatures. Therianthropes involuntarily identify as non-human creatures.

"Therians are still normal humans, despite their identity"

Nope, being a therian means that you're not fullyhuman. The whole definition of the identity states that a therianthrope "identifies as a non-human creature". The whole point of the identity is that therians are not 'normal people', however, they are still functionally human.

"Therianthropy is only spiritual"

The idea that therianthropy is inherently spiritual has been a common misconception in recent years due to the rise of "TikTok therians". And while many therians believe that their identity has spiritual roots, that isn't the case for a large part of the community. . . . Theres a person in your school that’s a therian! They’re also nonbinary/genderfluid and go by any pronouns that feel right. Mostly they/them or she/her. They’re the most supportive person you could meet, honestly. They’re very creative and an art kid, and they do choir. They wear their mask and tail, and definitely get made fun of for it by people who don’t understand it. The usual: “if your an animal I’m gonna treat you like one” or “it’s hunting season!!”. Cally doesn’t like it all, and usually makes videos supporting the gays, therians, furries, and black people. She loves dance, pop, and indie. They play animal crossing and different types of animal games.

Cally is like an explosion of color, honestly. Personality and wardrobe. Arguing usually leaves a bad feeling in their gut but she’ll do it to defend someone. Currently, they were in the art room… searching for a pin they dropped while sewing something in their therian mask. She was on her knees, her tail attached to her belt swishing from the movement, hands patting the ground as she looked for it when you walked in- and just in luck, you see the tiny shiny pin on the ground near your foot. She hasn’t noticed it but did say hi.

“Hey- sorry, I was editing my mask. Lost the pin, lol.”