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Post about furries in Psychology Today
Posted 8 years agoHuzzah! I wrote a guest blog article in Psychology Today about furries :3
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blo.....e-deal-furries
Feel free to discuss / criticize / whatnot below!
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blo.....e-deal-furries
Feel free to discuss / criticize / whatnot below!
IARP Research used in a Cracked article
Posted 8 years agoWhile I'm not the biggest fan of Cracked per se, I have to give credit to them for this particular article, which does a fairly good job evenhandedly representing the fandom. What's more exciting, however, is the fact that it's FILLED with references to our research, and it seems like they really did their homework on this one! The comments section leaves a lot to be desired (it seems like some people will simply never be swayed by data), but it's a great piece all in all :3
http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-thing.....ry-convention/
http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-thing.....ry-convention/
Cool, some GOOD press! Furries in "Psychology Today"
Posted 8 years agoNeat-o! An interview I did for Psychology Today, a big psychology outlet, about furries. We address misconceptions about sex / fetishism within the fandom, and I like to think I did a fairly good job addressing the issue of sex in the fandom in a way that's fair: Acknowledging the presence of pornography / sex in the fandom without branding / labeling the fandom as a fetish in and of itself. It's part of a talk I gave at the Alternative Sexuality conference in New York a couple of weeks ago, where I made precisely that point: The data suggest that sex is absolutely present in the fandom, but the fandom isn't about sex.
Definitely open to thoughts / comments on this, especially since I'm going on a radio program this Wednesday to talk about this point further. :)
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blo.....g-furry-fandom
Definitely open to thoughts / comments on this, especially since I'm going on a radio program this Wednesday to talk about this point further. :)
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blo.....g-furry-fandom
More fun with the media (yay!)
Posted 8 years agoOnce again, my colleagues and I have been asked to comment about furries for the media. Below, for your perusal, is the original e-mail from the journalist. I've been kind enough to not include the journalist's name or their publication as a courtesy to them - a courtesy I'm certain they would not extend to me or any furry they interviewed if it gave them a juicy story to tell. I've also included my response to their e-mail below.
E-mail from Journalist:
Dear Dr Roberts,
I’m writing a story for [deleted] about a triple homicide that took place in Orange County, CA, last year. I’m sure you read about it. Everyone, accused and victims, are furries.
I appreciate that this terrible crime doesn’t represent furry culture - that would be absurd. And I understand that furry culture has been misrepresented by the media for reasons of prejudice and laziness. I’d like to do better. But I don’t want to just ignore the furry aspect of this murder story. Rather, I see an opportunity to look into the interesting psychological and emotional aspects of the furry culture. It’s a teachable moment.
I’m very fur-curious myself. Your research mentions that many furries are gay, that many have been bullied - it's an interesting group.I’m hoping you can help me understand why some people love to anthropomorphize animals, and identify with them so closely? Does it speak to an antipathy with human beings? And the childish, playful, cuddly nature of furries, does this speak to some deficit in childhood perhaps, a way to make up for something that was lost? You liken the fursona to an alternative identity, like Second Life - we have so many these days, in social media, on dating sites, we present so many versions of ourselves to the world. How does furry culture fit into this landscape? And is there a dark side to this - to adopting a new persona, a new name, a new identity of sorts, and then wearing a full body costume where one’s face is hidden… In your research have you come across stories in which furry culture has experienced dark episodes, perhaps attracted disturbed people ? Is that part of the risk when your culture offers sanctuary for people who have been somehow damaged by life?
Anyway - I hope we get a chance to speak.
I'm based in [deleted], number below. I’d love to include you or whomever experts you direct me to, in the article. It's [deleted], a serious title, so I need to be as rigorous as possible.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Best,
[deleted]
My thoughts:
- “But I don’t want to just ignore the furry aspect of this murder story”. This, I think, is the first mistake, because it erroneously assumes that there is more than a superficial reason for furries to be associated with the murder story. As far as I know from my own reading of the coverage, the only thing furry has to do with this story is the fact that everyone involved in this story happened to be furry. Furry content had nothing to do with the motivation for the murders, the way they were carried out, etc… It was coincidental: All of these people happened to know each other, because they were all in the same local fan group. That’s it. If they were all anime fans who knew each other from anime club, he’d be asking “Well let’s see, what does anime have to do with murder?” If they were all co-workers at the same job, he’d be asking “Well, what does working at this office have to do with murder?” It’s ridiculous – furry was only a factor insofar it’s how these people happened to know each other. Asking if it played any additional role without any evidence for that being the case is looking for a story where there just isn’t one.
- “It’s a teachable moment” – In what sense? What, exactly, are you hoping to teach? The aftermath of a murder involving members of the fandom isn’t exactly an ideal time to have a “The More You Know” moment. To put it another way: In the aftermath of the Columbine shootings, where the perpetrators were both avid fans of the computer game Doom, do you think it’s even remotely possible to have an honest and objective conversation about gamer culture and the video game fandom? Or, do you think it’s more likely that the conversation will devolve into finger-pointing, demonization of the group, and an overall negative association of the group with this horrific incident?
- “Your research mentions that many furries are gay, that many have been bullied” – Yes, furries are more likely to have been bullied and be gay. So what? If the subtext / unspoken implication is “Do you think that being bullied / gay had anything to do with this murder”, my response would be to ask the suspects themselves if they were bullied or gay. I don’t see what furry’s got to do with it (or what being gay or being bullied had to do with it, unless you can provide me with some evidence that the people who were murdered had somehow bullied the suspects). At best, it’s a completely tangential association when it comes to the current incident, and at worse it makes completely unsubstantiated claims about people who are gay / bullied.
- “Why some people love to anthropomorphize animals, and identify with them so closely? Does it speak to an antipathy with human beings?” No more than an interest in science fiction or fantasy means that people prefer the company of aliens or orcs to human beings. Furries love media that feature anthropomorphic characters because it’s intrinsically interesting to them. We’re a culture that grew up with Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse, where these characters were fun and interesting to watch. For some people that interest simply became a lifelong passion. It’s sort of like asking why some people like licorice – some just really do, while others don’t get the appeal at all. Beyond aesthetic preference, there’s not much more to it. And no, it doesn’t speak to an antipathy toward human beings – furries are incredibly social, and a sense of belongingness and community is a central component of the furry fandom. If furries had antipathy toward other people, you would expect to see a lot of solitary fans, not a vibrant and active community.
- “And the childish, playful, cuddly nature of furries, does this speak to some deficit in childhood perhaps, a way to make up for something that was lost?” I’m unsure why a person being cuddly and playful in adulthood is a sign of maladaptation or dysfunction. If anything, I would argue that being boring, stand-offish, and lacking a sense of wonder or imagination with the world is a bigger sign that something might have gone wrong. None of our research suggests that furries are dysfunctional or lacking anything, nor are they compensating for any sort of flaw or deprivation in childhood. Most of us enjoyed active imaginations, playful wonderment at the world, and social interaction in our youth. Furries simply challenge the notion that this needs to end when you become an adult.
- “You liken the fursona to an alternative identity, like Second Life – we have so many these days, in social media, on dating sites, we present so many versions of ourselves to the world. How does furry culture fit into this landscape?” Well, he’s pretty much hit the nail on the head here – a fursona, in many respects, is no different than a nickname, an avatar, a handle, a character in a video game, a dating site profile… In all of these respects, people craft idealized versions of themselves for the purpose of interacting with others. The only differences between furries and other contexts is that furries put a little more imagination and creativity into theirs.
- “Is there a dark side to this – to adopting a new persona, a new name, a new identity of sorts, and then wearing a full body costume where one’s face is hidden.” The overwhelming majority of furries create fursonas that are idealized, better versions of themselves. Your fursona is like you, but a happier, more fun, better-looking, more sociable version of you. So, no, I would say that there’s really not a dark or insidious side to fursona creation, any more than there is in a video game or online forum where people pick a cool-sounding nickname and design a flattering portrait of themselves. As for the “full body costume” (fursuit) – the vast majority of furries (~80%) do not own a fursuit, so already you’re speaking about a small and non-representative subgroup of the broader furry fandom. As for wearing something that obscures your face – fursuiters report that this typically allows them to break out of their shyness, so that they can more confidently interact with other people and perform / interact with others in public. Suggesting that there’s a dark and insidious side to this – especially when there’s no evidence from the case to suggest that furry played any motivation in the murders – is grasping at straws for an explanation where none exists. You might as well ask if the suspects wore hoodies at the time, and then speculate on whether there’s a dark and insidious side to this particular article of clothing.
- “In your research have you come across stories in which furry culture has experienced dark episodes, perhaps attracted disturbed people? Is that part of the risk when your culture offers sanctuary for people who have been somehow damaged by life?” In a word – no. You encounter scuffles and disagreements in the furry fandom, just as you would any other group of people, whether it’s churchgoers, co-workers, or sports fans. If anything, when it comes to negativity and furries, the story REALLY should focus on the stigma they experience from others – the bullying and harassment that furries experience just for enjoying a hobby. The fact that furries have been attacked and beaten, both in fursuits and outside of fursuits, by people who hate them for their interests. If you want to talk about disturbed people, look no further than internet forums where they call for the mass extermination of furries, tell them to burn in hell, and gleefully post images of mutilated and decapitated furry characters to show them how unwanted they are. The furry fandom is a place of social support for furries, a community of people who are there for them when things get hard. The first place where many of them feel they can fit in with a group and feel safe. I see no risk in that.
In short, there’s really not a story here. Not only is this piece really late to the game (the incident occurred months ago), but it’s grasping at straws, trying to find some connection between furries and the incident when, really, none exists – not in the research, not in any of the interviews with the suspects, and not in anyone who knew the people involved first-hand. Doing this story, however good the reporter’s intention (e.g., to foster a “teaching moment”) is going to do more harm than good for the furry community.
E-mail from Journalist:
Dear Dr Roberts,
I’m writing a story for [deleted] about a triple homicide that took place in Orange County, CA, last year. I’m sure you read about it. Everyone, accused and victims, are furries.
I appreciate that this terrible crime doesn’t represent furry culture - that would be absurd. And I understand that furry culture has been misrepresented by the media for reasons of prejudice and laziness. I’d like to do better. But I don’t want to just ignore the furry aspect of this murder story. Rather, I see an opportunity to look into the interesting psychological and emotional aspects of the furry culture. It’s a teachable moment.
I’m very fur-curious myself. Your research mentions that many furries are gay, that many have been bullied - it's an interesting group.I’m hoping you can help me understand why some people love to anthropomorphize animals, and identify with them so closely? Does it speak to an antipathy with human beings? And the childish, playful, cuddly nature of furries, does this speak to some deficit in childhood perhaps, a way to make up for something that was lost? You liken the fursona to an alternative identity, like Second Life - we have so many these days, in social media, on dating sites, we present so many versions of ourselves to the world. How does furry culture fit into this landscape? And is there a dark side to this - to adopting a new persona, a new name, a new identity of sorts, and then wearing a full body costume where one’s face is hidden… In your research have you come across stories in which furry culture has experienced dark episodes, perhaps attracted disturbed people ? Is that part of the risk when your culture offers sanctuary for people who have been somehow damaged by life?
Anyway - I hope we get a chance to speak.
I'm based in [deleted], number below. I’d love to include you or whomever experts you direct me to, in the article. It's [deleted], a serious title, so I need to be as rigorous as possible.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Best,
[deleted]
My thoughts:
- “But I don’t want to just ignore the furry aspect of this murder story”. This, I think, is the first mistake, because it erroneously assumes that there is more than a superficial reason for furries to be associated with the murder story. As far as I know from my own reading of the coverage, the only thing furry has to do with this story is the fact that everyone involved in this story happened to be furry. Furry content had nothing to do with the motivation for the murders, the way they were carried out, etc… It was coincidental: All of these people happened to know each other, because they were all in the same local fan group. That’s it. If they were all anime fans who knew each other from anime club, he’d be asking “Well let’s see, what does anime have to do with murder?” If they were all co-workers at the same job, he’d be asking “Well, what does working at this office have to do with murder?” It’s ridiculous – furry was only a factor insofar it’s how these people happened to know each other. Asking if it played any additional role without any evidence for that being the case is looking for a story where there just isn’t one.
- “It’s a teachable moment” – In what sense? What, exactly, are you hoping to teach? The aftermath of a murder involving members of the fandom isn’t exactly an ideal time to have a “The More You Know” moment. To put it another way: In the aftermath of the Columbine shootings, where the perpetrators were both avid fans of the computer game Doom, do you think it’s even remotely possible to have an honest and objective conversation about gamer culture and the video game fandom? Or, do you think it’s more likely that the conversation will devolve into finger-pointing, demonization of the group, and an overall negative association of the group with this horrific incident?
- “Your research mentions that many furries are gay, that many have been bullied” – Yes, furries are more likely to have been bullied and be gay. So what? If the subtext / unspoken implication is “Do you think that being bullied / gay had anything to do with this murder”, my response would be to ask the suspects themselves if they were bullied or gay. I don’t see what furry’s got to do with it (or what being gay or being bullied had to do with it, unless you can provide me with some evidence that the people who were murdered had somehow bullied the suspects). At best, it’s a completely tangential association when it comes to the current incident, and at worse it makes completely unsubstantiated claims about people who are gay / bullied.
- “Why some people love to anthropomorphize animals, and identify with them so closely? Does it speak to an antipathy with human beings?” No more than an interest in science fiction or fantasy means that people prefer the company of aliens or orcs to human beings. Furries love media that feature anthropomorphic characters because it’s intrinsically interesting to them. We’re a culture that grew up with Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse, where these characters were fun and interesting to watch. For some people that interest simply became a lifelong passion. It’s sort of like asking why some people like licorice – some just really do, while others don’t get the appeal at all. Beyond aesthetic preference, there’s not much more to it. And no, it doesn’t speak to an antipathy toward human beings – furries are incredibly social, and a sense of belongingness and community is a central component of the furry fandom. If furries had antipathy toward other people, you would expect to see a lot of solitary fans, not a vibrant and active community.
- “And the childish, playful, cuddly nature of furries, does this speak to some deficit in childhood perhaps, a way to make up for something that was lost?” I’m unsure why a person being cuddly and playful in adulthood is a sign of maladaptation or dysfunction. If anything, I would argue that being boring, stand-offish, and lacking a sense of wonder or imagination with the world is a bigger sign that something might have gone wrong. None of our research suggests that furries are dysfunctional or lacking anything, nor are they compensating for any sort of flaw or deprivation in childhood. Most of us enjoyed active imaginations, playful wonderment at the world, and social interaction in our youth. Furries simply challenge the notion that this needs to end when you become an adult.
- “You liken the fursona to an alternative identity, like Second Life – we have so many these days, in social media, on dating sites, we present so many versions of ourselves to the world. How does furry culture fit into this landscape?” Well, he’s pretty much hit the nail on the head here – a fursona, in many respects, is no different than a nickname, an avatar, a handle, a character in a video game, a dating site profile… In all of these respects, people craft idealized versions of themselves for the purpose of interacting with others. The only differences between furries and other contexts is that furries put a little more imagination and creativity into theirs.
- “Is there a dark side to this – to adopting a new persona, a new name, a new identity of sorts, and then wearing a full body costume where one’s face is hidden.” The overwhelming majority of furries create fursonas that are idealized, better versions of themselves. Your fursona is like you, but a happier, more fun, better-looking, more sociable version of you. So, no, I would say that there’s really not a dark or insidious side to fursona creation, any more than there is in a video game or online forum where people pick a cool-sounding nickname and design a flattering portrait of themselves. As for the “full body costume” (fursuit) – the vast majority of furries (~80%) do not own a fursuit, so already you’re speaking about a small and non-representative subgroup of the broader furry fandom. As for wearing something that obscures your face – fursuiters report that this typically allows them to break out of their shyness, so that they can more confidently interact with other people and perform / interact with others in public. Suggesting that there’s a dark and insidious side to this – especially when there’s no evidence from the case to suggest that furry played any motivation in the murders – is grasping at straws for an explanation where none exists. You might as well ask if the suspects wore hoodies at the time, and then speculate on whether there’s a dark and insidious side to this particular article of clothing.
- “In your research have you come across stories in which furry culture has experienced dark episodes, perhaps attracted disturbed people? Is that part of the risk when your culture offers sanctuary for people who have been somehow damaged by life?” In a word – no. You encounter scuffles and disagreements in the furry fandom, just as you would any other group of people, whether it’s churchgoers, co-workers, or sports fans. If anything, when it comes to negativity and furries, the story REALLY should focus on the stigma they experience from others – the bullying and harassment that furries experience just for enjoying a hobby. The fact that furries have been attacked and beaten, both in fursuits and outside of fursuits, by people who hate them for their interests. If you want to talk about disturbed people, look no further than internet forums where they call for the mass extermination of furries, tell them to burn in hell, and gleefully post images of mutilated and decapitated furry characters to show them how unwanted they are. The furry fandom is a place of social support for furries, a community of people who are there for them when things get hard. The first place where many of them feel they can fit in with a group and feel safe. I see no risk in that.
In short, there’s really not a story here. Not only is this piece really late to the game (the incident occurred months ago), but it’s grasping at straws, trying to find some connection between furries and the incident when, really, none exists – not in the research, not in any of the interviews with the suspects, and not in anyone who knew the people involved first-hand. Doing this story, however good the reporter’s intention (e.g., to foster a “teaching moment”) is going to do more harm than good for the furry community.
Calling all artists: Help with a study
Posted 8 years agoHello artists, one and all!
So, here's the scoop: I'm running a study in a couple of weeks at Furry Fiesta 2017. It's a panel study, wherein con-goers will be participating in a variety of different social studies. One of the things I'm doing during that panel is testing a commonly-held hypothesis that it's possible to guess the gender of an artist based on the style of their work.
To this end, I'm looking for pieces of art to use in the study. Basically, I'll be showing it on a slide to an audience, who will have to respond on a piece of paper to several questions about it - including their guess about the artist's gender. The pieces need to be safe for work, and I'll be cropping out signatures to make it harder for people to recognize the artist from the signature. If you're interested in being a part of this, please send me a note, along with a link to the piece you'd like me to use, and clearly state your gender identity (I will not be guessing / presume gender, so please state it, even if you think it's obvious).
And, of course, if you have any questions, please feel free to let me know!
Thanks! :3
So, here's the scoop: I'm running a study in a couple of weeks at Furry Fiesta 2017. It's a panel study, wherein con-goers will be participating in a variety of different social studies. One of the things I'm doing during that panel is testing a commonly-held hypothesis that it's possible to guess the gender of an artist based on the style of their work.
To this end, I'm looking for pieces of art to use in the study. Basically, I'll be showing it on a slide to an audience, who will have to respond on a piece of paper to several questions about it - including their guess about the artist's gender. The pieces need to be safe for work, and I'll be cropping out signatures to make it harder for people to recognize the artist from the signature. If you're interested in being a part of this, please send me a note, along with a link to the piece you'd like me to use, and clearly state your gender identity (I will not be guessing / presume gender, so please state it, even if you think it's obvious).
And, of course, if you have any questions, please feel free to let me know!
Thanks! :3
Have I mentioned that I dislike the media?
Posted 8 years agoWoohoo, the media's on a roll right now.
This one isn't for my furry research. A few weeks ago, I co-authored a piece in a psychological journal about global warming. In a nutshell, here's the logic of our original piece:
a) Global warming is a thing.
b) Research suggests that as it gets warmer, people are at an increased risk for aggressive behavior.
c) Also, as it gets warmer (climate-wise), there's increased risk of droughts and intense weather, which could spark regional conflicts over water / resources.
d) Ergo, one reason to be concerned about global warming (among many) is the potential for increased hostility.
I didn't think it was TOO controversial. Silly me. It's now being reported all over alt-right websites, as me saying "people can riot and murder others because it's too hot outside and people can't control themselves". Then the idiots who read the piece have a grand old time at what a raving looney I sound like.
What's even funnier is that they clearly didn't even TRY to discredit me. If they'd only taken the time to Google my name, they could've thrown up pictures of me in a fursuit to make me look even less credible.
Article can be found here, along with my original (below).
http://www.naturalnews.com/2017-02-.....l-warming.html
https://www.psychologicalscience.or.....r#.WKUkoX9yxlw
This one isn't for my furry research. A few weeks ago, I co-authored a piece in a psychological journal about global warming. In a nutshell, here's the logic of our original piece:
a) Global warming is a thing.
b) Research suggests that as it gets warmer, people are at an increased risk for aggressive behavior.
c) Also, as it gets warmer (climate-wise), there's increased risk of droughts and intense weather, which could spark regional conflicts over water / resources.
d) Ergo, one reason to be concerned about global warming (among many) is the potential for increased hostility.
I didn't think it was TOO controversial. Silly me. It's now being reported all over alt-right websites, as me saying "people can riot and murder others because it's too hot outside and people can't control themselves". Then the idiots who read the piece have a grand old time at what a raving looney I sound like.
What's even funnier is that they clearly didn't even TRY to discredit me. If they'd only taken the time to Google my name, they could've thrown up pictures of me in a fursuit to make me look even less credible.
Article can be found here, along with my original (below).
http://www.naturalnews.com/2017-02-.....l-warming.html
https://www.psychologicalscience.or.....r#.WKUkoX9yxlw
Fuck the media (Warning: Rant)
Posted 8 years agoBy now, you've probably heard the unfortunate story about a boy who was repeatedly sexually assaulted by three people with fursuits who were allegedly members of the furry fandom. As you can imagine, my research team and I have been dealing with media inquiries as a result.
I found one of them in particularly to be quite galling, and I couldn't resist answering them with a bit of snark. Here's how I responded:
Dear ***********,
Dr. Courtney Plante here, Dr. Gerbasi's research collaborator and lead author of the book Dr. Gerbasi cited. I'd like to add to what Dr. Gerbasi said and respond to your questions.
- Can this subculture (Furry) be considered just a 'sexual fetish'?
In a word, "no". Furry is no more a "sexual fetish" than is being a "sport fan", "science fiction fan", or "gamer". Some people are fans of science fiction stories. Some people are fans of sports. Furries are fans of media that feature walking, talking animal characters, the sort of thing you'd see in films like Zootopia. To put it simply, "furry" is not a fetish because the vast majority of furries say their interest in furry is non-sexual or not driven predominantly by sex, something you wouldn't expect to find if it were a fetish.
- Is having these types of sexual fetishes normal or does it indicate any sexual disturbance?
Again, I disagree with your premise. Furry is not a fetish, so it doesn't make sense to ask whether it is normal or indicates sexual disturbance. If a football fan decided to rape someone while wearing their favorite player's jersey, would it make sense to say that person had a "football fetish?" Would you ask whether football fans were all "football fetishists" prone to sexual disturance? We can say that these three individuals clearly have some problems, but their behavior does not say anything about what furries in general are like. Otherwise, we would have to admit that if any sport fan murdered or raped anyone ever, it tells us that all sport fans are prone to murdering and raping.
- Can pedophiles attract minors more easily with such practices?
As far as I know, no one has ever run that sort of study, in the same way that no one has ever a run a study to see how effectively you can lure children into the back of a van with promises of puppies and candy. Frankly, I'm not sure what the point of this question is. Child molesters may employ a variety of insidious tactics to lure or persuade potential victims. Frankly, I think it makes more sense to point to the culprits themselves than it does to demonize the entire internet, public playgrounds, costumes, or any other factors that may be incidentally related to cases that involve individuals committing horrific acts of abuse.
And finally, in response to this: “Furries” are members of a subculture who take on identities based on anthropomorphic animals, called fursonas. It may involve wearing mascot-like costumes. The attorney general’s office noted that a subset of furries do so as a “sexual fetish.”
I'll point out that only about 20% of furries actually owns a fursuit, which they typically wear at public gatherings like parades, zoos, conventions, etc. As for the attorney general's office noting that a subset of furries do so as a sexual fetish, I would sincerely like to know where they got their data. As a researcher studying this fandom for six years, I have never once come across the numbers on this topic. I could similarly argue that some subset of sport fans have a "cheerleader fetish", or that some subset of car aficionados have a "car fetish", and I wouldn't be wrong: as long as even one person in those groups engages in that behavior, I would be correct. The statement by the attorney general's office is thus completely meaningless and irrelevant to the current story.
Though I'm sure that won't stop anyone in the media from ignoring this fact so they can write an exciting story.
- Dr. Courtney Plante
I found one of them in particularly to be quite galling, and I couldn't resist answering them with a bit of snark. Here's how I responded:
Dear ***********,
Dr. Courtney Plante here, Dr. Gerbasi's research collaborator and lead author of the book Dr. Gerbasi cited. I'd like to add to what Dr. Gerbasi said and respond to your questions.
- Can this subculture (Furry) be considered just a 'sexual fetish'?
In a word, "no". Furry is no more a "sexual fetish" than is being a "sport fan", "science fiction fan", or "gamer". Some people are fans of science fiction stories. Some people are fans of sports. Furries are fans of media that feature walking, talking animal characters, the sort of thing you'd see in films like Zootopia. To put it simply, "furry" is not a fetish because the vast majority of furries say their interest in furry is non-sexual or not driven predominantly by sex, something you wouldn't expect to find if it were a fetish.
- Is having these types of sexual fetishes normal or does it indicate any sexual disturbance?
Again, I disagree with your premise. Furry is not a fetish, so it doesn't make sense to ask whether it is normal or indicates sexual disturbance. If a football fan decided to rape someone while wearing their favorite player's jersey, would it make sense to say that person had a "football fetish?" Would you ask whether football fans were all "football fetishists" prone to sexual disturance? We can say that these three individuals clearly have some problems, but their behavior does not say anything about what furries in general are like. Otherwise, we would have to admit that if any sport fan murdered or raped anyone ever, it tells us that all sport fans are prone to murdering and raping.
- Can pedophiles attract minors more easily with such practices?
As far as I know, no one has ever run that sort of study, in the same way that no one has ever a run a study to see how effectively you can lure children into the back of a van with promises of puppies and candy. Frankly, I'm not sure what the point of this question is. Child molesters may employ a variety of insidious tactics to lure or persuade potential victims. Frankly, I think it makes more sense to point to the culprits themselves than it does to demonize the entire internet, public playgrounds, costumes, or any other factors that may be incidentally related to cases that involve individuals committing horrific acts of abuse.
And finally, in response to this: “Furries” are members of a subculture who take on identities based on anthropomorphic animals, called fursonas. It may involve wearing mascot-like costumes. The attorney general’s office noted that a subset of furries do so as a “sexual fetish.”
I'll point out that only about 20% of furries actually owns a fursuit, which they typically wear at public gatherings like parades, zoos, conventions, etc. As for the attorney general's office noting that a subset of furries do so as a sexual fetish, I would sincerely like to know where they got their data. As a researcher studying this fandom for six years, I have never once come across the numbers on this topic. I could similarly argue that some subset of sport fans have a "cheerleader fetish", or that some subset of car aficionados have a "car fetish", and I wouldn't be wrong: as long as even one person in those groups engages in that behavior, I would be correct. The statement by the attorney general's office is thus completely meaningless and irrelevant to the current story.
Though I'm sure that won't stop anyone in the media from ignoring this fact so they can write an exciting story.
- Dr. Courtney Plante
Spam me with distracting / viral videos: For science!
Posted 9 years agoOkay, I have an unusual request for everyone reading this: Please send me links below to the most distracting videos you can think of on the internet. Cute cat videos, delicious food, fail compilations, car crashes... anything you can think of that's visually distracting.
I'm putting them together as a stimulus for an upcoming study on immersion. So yes, this is my one (and only) request for you to bombard me with annoying / distracting/ viral videos from the internet.
I'm putting them together as a stimulus for an upcoming study on immersion. So yes, this is my one (and only) request for you to bombard me with annoying / distracting/ viral videos from the internet.
Online Furry Study (Need Participants - One Week Only!)
Posted 9 years agoHi everyone!
My research team and I are running a two-part online study about fantasy and the furry fandom, and we need a LOT of participants to make it work! Because of its time-sensitive nature, we've only got a week to recruit a pile of furry participants! Basically, you complete part 1 of the study now, and in two weeks, we e-mail you part two. Each part you complete enters you into a draw for one of 3 Amazon.com gift cards. To learn more, click the link below (and please, I encourage you, share this link with other furries who might be interested!)
https://psychologyuwaterloo.qualtri.....mVkVg7dxopQUJf
For science! :D
-Nuka
My research team and I are running a two-part online study about fantasy and the furry fandom, and we need a LOT of participants to make it work! Because of its time-sensitive nature, we've only got a week to recruit a pile of furry participants! Basically, you complete part 1 of the study now, and in two weeks, we e-mail you part two. Each part you complete enters you into a draw for one of 3 Amazon.com gift cards. To learn more, click the link below (and please, I encourage you, share this link with other furries who might be interested!)
https://psychologyuwaterloo.qualtri.....mVkVg7dxopQUJf
For science! :D
-Nuka
Cool: IARP Research used on Culturally F'd!
Posted 9 years ago*happy dances* I'm excited to see our work being discussed by furries! :3 And it's a pretty good video, to boot!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm0_pm6NaSI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm0_pm6NaSI
Aha! Furry Research Book Published - Free Download!
Posted 9 years agoHi everyone!
At long last, it's here! The finished copy of "Fur Science!", our book about furry research is now self-published and available for free download online!
http://furscience.com/wp-content/up.....ok-First-5.pdf
Check it out! An organized, summarized, easy-to-use reference summarizing everything we've ever learned about furries, all in one convenient book! Download it, keep it on-hand to win an internet argument, share it with your friends! #shamelessselfpromotion
But seriously, check it out, and I'd love it if you could help give this a boost! We're so happy to be able to give this back to the furry fandom who's been so wonderful in helping us conduct this research over the past five years!
And, if you check it out, let me know what you think! Comments and feedback are always welcome!
At long last, it's here! The finished copy of "Fur Science!", our book about furry research is now self-published and available for free download online!
http://furscience.com/wp-content/up.....ok-First-5.pdf
Check it out! An organized, summarized, easy-to-use reference summarizing everything we've ever learned about furries, all in one convenient book! Download it, keep it on-hand to win an internet argument, share it with your friends! #shamelessselfpromotion
But seriously, check it out, and I'd love it if you could help give this a boost! We're so happy to be able to give this back to the furry fandom who's been so wonderful in helping us conduct this research over the past five years!
And, if you check it out, let me know what you think! Comments and feedback are always welcome!
Nuka interview with FurryFandom.es
Posted 9 years agoCool! An interview I did with the folks over at FurryFandom.es, a Spanish furry website that aims to take an international perspective on the furry fandom! Definitely check them out if you're interested in all things furry (or if you really, really want to read one of my interviews translated into Spanish for some reason - I should point out that it's also in English!)
https://www.furryfandom.es/en/2016/.....-psychologist/
https://www.furryfandom.es/en/2016/.....-psychologist/
IARP 2016 Longitudinal Study Launched
Posted 9 years agoHi everyone!
To those who follow me for updates on furry science: I just wanted to let you know that the 2016 wave of the Furry Longitudinal Study has now been sent out! If you're in our database, you should have received an e-mail from us with a link to the survey and your unique study ID code (you may have to check your junk e-mail, in case it's been filtered / marked as spam). I encourage you to have a look and, if you're interested, to complete it (after all, you did sign up to be a part of it!)
If you're not part of the IARP's ongoing study, but want to be, fire me an e-mail at cplante[at]iastate.edu and let me know! It's not too late to join in!
To those who follow me for updates on furry science: I just wanted to let you know that the 2016 wave of the Furry Longitudinal Study has now been sent out! If you're in our database, you should have received an e-mail from us with a link to the survey and your unique study ID code (you may have to check your junk e-mail, in case it's been filtered / marked as spam). I encourage you to have a look and, if you're interested, to complete it (after all, you did sign up to be a part of it!)
If you're not part of the IARP's ongoing study, but want to be, fire me an e-mail at cplante[at]iastate.edu and let me know! It's not too late to join in!
Furry Article for High Level Games
Posted 9 years agoA friend of mine who runs a "geek" website asked me to write up an article addressing popular misconceptions about the furry fandom. I took a crack at it, and this was the result: http://www.highlevelgames.ca/blog/5.....-about-furries
Check it out, let me know what you think! ^^
Check it out, let me know what you think! ^^
Live Interview on South Afrifur! (in half an hour!)
Posted 9 years agoHey everyone! Just letting folks know I'll be doing a livestream on South Afrifur (https://furstre.am/stream/South-Afrifur) this afternoon (from noon to 1:30 central time, or half an hour from now)! It'll be a a sort of Q&A type thing (chat here: https://furstre.am/stream/South-Afrifur/popoutchat) if you want to check it out and/or possibly ask a question of your own!
I was on Fur What it's Worth!
Posted 10 years agoSo, I was a guest on the most recent "Fur What it's Worth" podcast! I think the show went really well, actually, and it was one of the few times where I felt I was able to fully articulate my point without a host cutting me short! Had a great time on the show, and would love a chance to do another one with these folks! Definitely check these folks out - they do a terrific show!
http://www.furwhatitsworth.com/?p=2485
http://www.furwhatitsworth.com/?p=2485
Anthrocon 2015 Data Up! Artists, Post-Con Depression + more!
Posted 10 years agoHey everyone!
Interested in learning more about furries? Wanna know what we learned at Anthrocon this year? Like science?!
https://sites.google.com/site/anthr.....anthrocon-2015
Check it out! A ton of new data from Anthrocon 2015, including research on artists, fantasy, gender, post-con depression, therianthropy, income, and more!
Also, feel free to share this with other folks who you think might like science! =D You will be doing your bit for science! <3
Interested in learning more about furries? Wanna know what we learned at Anthrocon this year? Like science?!
https://sites.google.com/site/anthr.....anthrocon-2015
Check it out! A ton of new data from Anthrocon 2015, including research on artists, fantasy, gender, post-con depression, therianthropy, income, and more!
Also, feel free to share this with other folks who you think might like science! =D You will be doing your bit for science! <3
Signal Boost: Awesome Artist, Great Prices!
Posted 10 years agoHey everyone! Just wanted to put out a signal boost to a dear friend of mine who's an up-and-coming artist, laz3rcat!
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/laz3rcat/
She recently did this sweet pic of Nuka for me, and has done a TON of other art that I absolutely adore!
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/17045511/
She does a ton of WoW art, as well as all kinds of anthro artwork. Definitely a person to check out, especially if you're looking to get a sweet commission for a really reasonable price =^_^=
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/laz3rcat/
She recently did this sweet pic of Nuka for me, and has done a TON of other art that I absolutely adore!
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/17045511/
She does a ton of WoW art, as well as all kinds of anthro artwork. Definitely a person to check out, especially if you're looking to get a sweet commission for a really reasonable price =^_^=
Furries in the Media: IARP Research Used!
Posted 10 years agoHuzzah! I was interviewed about a week ago for this article for Pittsburgh station WTAE about furries. The station has covered Anthrocon quite favorably in past years, and this year, journalist Daisy Ruth wanted to do two pieces: one a couple of weeks before Anthrocon to get folks in Pittsburgh stoked for Anthrocon and help explain to them what it was about, and then one a few days afterward, after she'd had a chance to walk through the convention itself (with a press pass and such!)
At any rate, the article came out great! She uses our research quite extensively throughout the article, and nearly everything she says about furries in the piece is backed-up with IARP research. It's a great, accurate piece that does a terrific job getting past the most superficial parts of the fandom ('here's some people in silly suits') and getting at some of the deeper aspects of the fandom (e.g., what's a fursona, and why do furries make 'em?)
Have a gander, and definitely share the love! The best way to counter negative press about furs is to amplify the good press!
http://www.wtae.com/entertainment/i.....V%20Pittsburgh
At any rate, the article came out great! She uses our research quite extensively throughout the article, and nearly everything she says about furries in the piece is backed-up with IARP research. It's a great, accurate piece that does a terrific job getting past the most superficial parts of the fandom ('here's some people in silly suits') and getting at some of the deeper aspects of the fandom (e.g., what's a fursona, and why do furries make 'em?)
Have a gander, and definitely share the love! The best way to counter negative press about furs is to amplify the good press!
http://www.wtae.com/entertainment/i.....V%20Pittsburgh
New Data Up: Furry Fiesta 2015 (Porn Study!)
Posted 10 years agoHi everyone!
At long last, the IARP's much-anticipated Furry Fiesta 2015 data is now up on our website for your perusal! Six big, interesting topics covered this time around, including:
- How old furries are vs. how old they feel
- Disabilities in the furry fandom
- Women in the fandom
- Artists in the fandom
- Furry pornography (and what happens when you make non-furries look at it!)
- Recognizing human faces, non-human faces, and fursuits
Have a look for yourself, and let me know what you think! Feedback is always welcome, and we'd LOVE it if you could spread this around (if you find it interesting, of course!)
https://sites.google.com/site/anthr.....ry-fiesta-2015
-Nuka
At long last, the IARP's much-anticipated Furry Fiesta 2015 data is now up on our website for your perusal! Six big, interesting topics covered this time around, including:
- How old furries are vs. how old they feel
- Disabilities in the furry fandom
- Women in the fandom
- Artists in the fandom
- Furry pornography (and what happens when you make non-furries look at it!)
- Recognizing human faces, non-human faces, and fursuits
Have a look for yourself, and let me know what you think! Feedback is always welcome, and we'd LOVE it if you could spread this around (if you find it interesting, of course!)
https://sites.google.com/site/anthr.....ry-fiesta-2015
-Nuka
IARP Research used in a Piece about Furries!
Posted 10 years agoWow! I'm actually really impressed with how this piece came out! I ended up doing a 2-hour interview with the author who, to her credit, used a TON of our research in the piece. It's actually very positive, fairly addressing the fact that "yup, sex is in the furry fandom" while simultaneously affirming "nope, it's nothing scandalous, it's nothing you don't see anywhere else, and furry isn't, in and of itself, a fetish". A fantastic balance of dispelling myths about the fandom without trying to sanitize it.
Have a gander for yourself, and let me know what you think!
http://m.northcoastjournal.com/humb.....;issue=2823257
Have a gander for yourself, and let me know what you think!
http://m.northcoastjournal.com/humb.....;issue=2823257
IARP Research used in Huffington Post Article!
Posted 11 years agow00t! Huffington Post did a great article on furries! The author interviewed me (as well as several well-known furries) and did - what I think - is one of the more in-depth and accurate pieces on the furry fandom. Much of the IARP's research was used in the piece, and I'm quite happy with how it turned out :) Check it out, and let me know what you think!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/.....n_6342184.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/.....n_6342184.html
A piece on furries that gets it pretty close to right!
Posted 11 years agoI was asked to provide input to this piece on furries and, to the author's credit, he actually took most of my suggestions, used the IARP's research, and legitimately tried to write an accurate piece on furries. It's sad that a piece like this got it FAR more right than most of the major news organizations did this week -_-'
At any rate, like, share, and let others know about this piece. The flip side to complaining about bad media on furries is to share and distribute media that more fairly portrays us!
http://www.vox.com/2014/12/10/73623.....rrassed-to-ask
At any rate, like, share, and let others know about this piece. The flip side to complaining about bad media on furries is to share and distribute media that more fairly portrays us!
http://www.vox.com/2014/12/10/73623.....rrassed-to-ask
New Furry Research Results: Furries / Anime / Sport Fans!
Posted 11 years agoAfter months of preparation, data analysis, and days of writing / figure generation, it's FINALLY done!
https://sites.google.com/site/anthr.....fandom-project
Ever wondered what furries, anime fans, and sport fans have in common? Ever wondered what makes furries different from all of those?
Check it out! Out of all the data we've ever analyzed / presented, this is BY FAR the coolest - hands down!
Would LOVE to know what others think, hear feedback, etc...
I don't USUALLY pimp my own work like this, but I'm pretty dang proud of this (this is part of what that $65,000 grant from the Canadian government was for!) So share it with others, and check it out yourself! =3
For science!
https://sites.google.com/site/anthr.....fandom-project
Ever wondered what furries, anime fans, and sport fans have in common? Ever wondered what makes furries different from all of those?
Check it out! Out of all the data we've ever analyzed / presented, this is BY FAR the coolest - hands down!
Would LOVE to know what others think, hear feedback, etc...
I don't USUALLY pimp my own work like this, but I'm pretty dang proud of this (this is part of what that $65,000 grant from the Canadian government was for!) So share it with others, and check it out yourself! =3
For science!
Achievement Unlocked: Become a doctor!
Posted 11 years agoWell, it's been five years, but I can finally do it: When someone tells me I'm crazy for wearing a fuzzy blue suit, I can look them in the eye and tell them "nope, I'm a doctor".
In all seriousness, I have to thank the furry fandom as a whole - without whom I'm not sure I would be able to run around calling myself Doctor. One of the only things that kept me going years ago when I was first starting out in grad school was the support of my local furry group and the support of the community as a whole for the research I've been doing with the International Anthropomorphic Research Project.
Without you folks, I may well have become discouraged and dropped out. Or, at very least, I would be doing some very, VERY boring research =P
From the bottom of my heart: Thank you.
In all seriousness, I have to thank the furry fandom as a whole - without whom I'm not sure I would be able to run around calling myself Doctor. One of the only things that kept me going years ago when I was first starting out in grad school was the support of my local furry group and the support of the community as a whole for the research I've been doing with the International Anthropomorphic Research Project.
Without you folks, I may well have become discouraged and dropped out. Or, at very least, I would be doing some very, VERY boring research =P
From the bottom of my heart: Thank you.
