3.5 Species Perception

We asked furries to rate their fursona species, as well as several other species, on a number of traits, expecting to find that different species scored higher on different traits¹ However, something else happened, rather unexpectedly: regardless of the participant’s actual species (dragon, fox, wolf, etc.), they were more likely to see their particular species as more masculine and feminine than the other species, more sociable, more fun, and admirable than others. They were also more likely to see their species as less aggressive than others, even if it was a member of a species commonly assumed to be aggressive (e.g., a lion or a dragon). In short: furries are biased to see “their” species as better than others do, regardless of what the stereotypes of that species are. It may be the case that by identifying with a species held in a positive light may serve a useful self-esteem bolstering function for furries (a topic addressed in greater detail in section 3.12).

1. International Online Furry Survey: Winter 2011