• Replies 30 replies
  • Subscribers 37 subscribers
  • Views 981 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Exploring Identity and Neurodiversity

Packet
Hi everyone,

I’d like to open a careful and respectful discussion around a concept I’ve come across called “species dysphoria.” 
It’s not a recognized medical or psychological diagnosis, but rather a speculative or philosophical idea involving a mismatch between one’s identity and being human.
I want to be very clear:
  • This is not being presented as a clinical condition.
  • I’m sharing it as a thought experiment to explore how identity, neurodiversity, and self-perception intersect.
  • I recognize that autistic individuals may engage deeply with abstract or niche ideas, and I want to ensure this conversation remains grounded, safe, and open to critical thinking.
If this topic feels uncomfortable or confusing, please feel free to skip it.
And if you do choose to engage, I’d love to hear your thoughts—whether skeptical, curious, or critical.
Let’s keep it thoughtful and kind. 
Regards,
Packet(a96ddb is my color)
  • Packet said:
    I’m sharing it as a thought experiment to explore how identity, neurodiversity, and self-perception intersect.

    It would be useful to know the parameters of the experiment if it is to have any meaningful analysis.

    There is some explanation of how these shoud work here:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought_experiment

    It is often an experiment that would be hard, impossible, or unethical to actually perform

    I imagine it will be hard to conduct as there are few controls around the experiment and the output from people is quite untestable.

    A few factors to help clean up the parameters:

    1 - Can it just be a species we identify as or can it be another "thing" such as an artificial intelligence, a robot, a god etc.

    2 - Are we constricted to existing species? How about extinct ones (I had a nepher who identified as a dinosaur for a while)?

    3 - Do the species have to be real? How about elves, dwarves, sprites etc? Aliens could fall into this category as we cannot prove they exist yet.

    4 - can we be a hybrid? a werewolf (or werehamster), cyborg, shapeshifter etc?

    5 - does it need to be all the time? I have some friends who love to identify as something else at plushy parties so if being a dog for a few hours counts then this broadens the scope.

    Packet said:
    If this topic feels uncomfortable or confusing

    This is to help clear up the confusion as autists often struggle with vague definitions.

    An interesting topic and it could be enlightening to see the responses.

  • in reply to ArchaeC

    Some people have denisovan dna also, mostly in the Asian region. 

  • I’m human and my DNA test has confirmed I am on the right track about that. 

    My DNA shows that I have just under 2% Homo Neanderthalensis.

    Some argue that Neanderthals were different species to Homo Sapiens, while others argue that as Neanderthals were human, it isn’t strictly correct to call them a different species. Until the argument is settled by the biologists and palaeoanthropologists, I am of the latter opinion. 

  • Interesting topic, definitely one I haven’t seen posted on this forum before. I guess some people may well feel they are not human or belong to another species. Do we know much research has gone into this in recent times?

  • in reply to Damojo

    I think I'm human, it's just everyone else is a bit strange and unpredictable.

  • Packet said:
    a speculative or philosophical idea involving a mismatch between one’s identity and being human

    I suppose it depends on what one views as "being human".

    There have been over 100 documented cases of children being raised by wild animals such as monkeys, chimps or wolves. When they were discovered they had no language and did not behave in the same way as a child who had been brought up in human society. So perhaps for people who feel more affinity with animals, it's a rejection of human society, or a feeling that they don't belong in it?

    Some autistic people have reported feeling like an alien, or that they are a different species to neurotypical humans. I always felt the opposite - that I was "human" and many other people I had met were "aliens", or maybe robots because they didn't seem to share my sensitivities.

    I haven't experienced species dysphoria myself - I don't actually identify with any species, I'm just me - so these are just my random thoughts on it.

  • in reply to Lotus

    Like how half the people here probably feel like an alien in a human suit?

  • in reply to Damojo

    Hi damo, Species dysphoria is a condition in which a person feels that their body is of the wrong species.

  • Perhaps if you defined your term "species dysphoria" in a little more detail...