Am I Fictionkin?

Fictionkin is most commonly defined as when one believes they were/are a fictional character or species in a past life, in another universe, or for psychological reasons.
This website is dedicated to helping people figure out if they are fictionkin & explaining common fictionkin terms.

1. Do you identify as or with this character/species?
If you identify as them, you may be fictionkin. If you identify with them, you may be a synpath or simply a kinnie.
It’s alright if you don’t know. Just ask yourself if you feel alright saying “I am [character name].” or “I am a [species name].” Test it out.2. Do you sometimes feel like you have features that this character/species has, even if they’re not really there?
This is called a phantom kinshift.3. Do you sometimes act like this character/species without doing it on purpose?
This is called a mental kinshift. Sometimes you can have a mental shift after consuming a piece of media, but you don’t actually kin the character/species. This is called a cameoshift.4. Do you have memories of being this character/species?
These are called kin memories/kinmems. Not everyone gets them, but they’re common. They can come in the form of dreams, too.5. Do you ever have dreams about being this character?
Dreams are messy, strange things, but sometimes people have dreams about being their kintypes. If you don’t have them, it likely doesn’t mean anything.6. Do you wish you looked like / were this character?
Many fictionkins experience this. It is call kin dysphoria.7. Do events in the source/canon feel like they happened to YOU rather than just some character?
Maybe you get overly sad at the death of the main character’s parents, maybe you feel extremely happy when that side character gets a good ending, or maybe you become sad when the villain doesn’t win. This is extremely common for fictionkins.8. Do you feel comfortable referring to yourself as this character/species?
Many fictionkins do too, though it isn’t always the case.9. Do you gain happiness from doing things that this character/species does / would do or being referred to as the character/species?
This is called kin euphoria!10. Do you feel happy at being properly characterized in fanworks, or vice versa (upset when mischaracterized)?
Specifically in a way that feels like you’re being properly represented, if you know what I mean.These questions are not direct indicators of whether you are fictionkin, but they’re something to take into account.

Terms & Definitions

This is not a complete list. It will never be a complete list, because languages are always changing & new terms are always being invented.- fictotype/kintype/kin
A fictional character or species that one kins.
- kin (as a verb)
Being a fictionkin of a character/species
- kinshift/shift
There are two kinds of kinshifts.
1. When one’s behavior/demeanor changes to be like that of a character.
This is called a mental shift.
2. When one feels like they have features that their fictotype also has.
This is called a phantom shift.
- kinnie
Generally, being a kinnie of a character means relating to them.
Some people use this word to make fun of fictionkins, while other people who are fictionkin use this word freely.
It’s not a slur, but some people may not want to be called this.
- spiritual fictionkin
When someone kins a character/species in a spiritual way, such as believing they were them in a past life or alternate universe.
- psychological fictionkin
When someone kins a character because they involuntarily developed a connection to them for psychological reasons.
- delusional attachment / DA / IRL / physical fictionkin
If someone says seriously that they are literally a character/species in real life, as in physically, they have a DA / they are an IRL / they are a physical fictionkin.
- fictive
An alter in a system based off of a fictional character. Generally, the alter believes that they are the fictional character (in the system’s headspace, not physically).
While this is not fictionkin, it needs to be mentioned so you can understand the difference.
- mediamate/sourcemate
A fellow fictionkin who has a fictotype that is from the same source media as (one of) someone else’s. These two people would be mediamates or sourcemates.
- canonmate
Someone who remembers their source media the same way someone else remembers that same source media.
- canon
The way someone’s source media is shown.
- (my/your/their) canon
The way someone remembers their source media— Can differ from the canon by appearances of characters, names of characters, things that weren’t shown in canon but they remember, etc.
- fictional other (f/o)
Similar to significant other. This can be a fictional character one ships with themself (also known as selfshipping, different from fictionkin) or it can be a character one was close to in their memories or canon.
- double/kintwin
If someone has the same fictotype as someone else, they would be doubles or kintwins. Some people choose to block doubles due to it making their kintype feel less valid, or for other reasons.
- low/medium/high kin
This is how much someone feels that their kintype is themself.
- selfhood/ID
When one feels that their kintype is truly and absolutely always them, even when not shifted.
- permashift
When one is permanently in a kinshift of their fictotype.
- kin memory / kinmem / mem
A memory one has of being their kintype. Not everyone gets these, but they are common.
- kinsider(ing)
When one is questioning if they kin a character. Base word: Consider(ing).
- kinfirm
When one confirms, after kinsidering, that they do kin a character. Base word: Confirm.
- kinfute
(Coined by me) When one, after kinsidering, realizes that they do not kin a character. Base word: Confute.
- kindrop
When one realizes, at any point after kinfirming, that they do not kin a character.

Fictionkin is NOT:- Heavily relating to a character/species
While sometimes people may heavily relate to characters/species that they kin, kinning is seeing yourself as a fictional character/species, or seeing that character/species as you.- Really liking a character/species
Just because you like them doesn’t mean you are them.- Pretending you are that character/species for coping reasons
This is called copinglink and is something entirely different from kin.