History Analysis / OurWerewolvesAreDifferent

* A werewolf normally loses their clothing when they shift; either it falls off when they turn into a normal wolf, or it's shredded when they grow in size. But in some stories, they may have a special outfit that withstands the shift, or their human body is displaced when they transform and they get it back--along with their clothing--when they revert back to human. Interestingly, werewolves are far more likely to have the "naked shapeshifter" problem than vampires or witches.
** This could be related to the fact that vampires and witches tend to be VoluntaryShapeshifters, whereas werewolves have a long history of involuntary transformations and/or transformations controlled by outside forces.

** If you want to be really old-timey, some werewolves will only change when the plant aconitum (aka wolfsbane) blooms, which is to say, around autumn, although different species bloom all year. Sometimes the werewolf has to eat the aconitum.

** The monkshood plant (''Acronitum'' genus, the European variety, ''Aconitum napellus'', is the most commonly used) is another possible option, since it's also called wolfsbane.

* The underlying cause of one's lycanthropic condition. Technically, a number of variations are possible: in some mythologies, a werewolf is an ''actual wolf'' who can [[HumanityEnsues assume human form]] rather than the other way around (we call that kind of creature a {{wolfwere}} nowadays). However, far and away the most popular concept is that a werewolf is a human who has somehow acquired the ability to transform ([[VoluntaryShapeshifter willingly]] or [[InvoluntaryShapeshifting otherwise]]) into a wolf. Popular methods include a ViralTransformation after being bitten by a previous werewolf, but there are many possible causes:

* The underlying cause of one's lycanthropic condition. Technically, a number of variations are possible: in some mythologies, a werewolf is an ''actual wolf'' who can [[HumanityEnsues assume human form]] rather than the other way around. However, far and away the most popular concept is that a werewolf is a human who has somehow acquired the ability to transform ([[VoluntaryShapeshifter willingly]] or [[InvoluntaryShapeshifting otherwise]]) into a wolf. Popular methods include a ViralTransformation after being bitten by a previous werewolf, but there are many possible causes:

** MultiformBalance: A werewolf might be able to assume more than one of the forms listed above, each with its own advantages. For example in 3rd Edition ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', lycanthropes can either take either a full animal form or a hybrid form resembling PettingZooPeople.

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** In ''Franchise/HarryPotter'', whether a werewolf locks themselves away or not is an indication of their morality. [[NiceGuy Remus Lupin]] takes huge precautions to ensure he doesn't hurt people, whereas Fenrir Greyback actually makes an effort to transform near his intended victims.

* What happens to a werewolf's clothes when they shift? In most stories, they're left naked. But in others, they may have a special outfit that withstands the shift, or their human body is displaced when they transform and they get it back--along with their clothing--when they revert back to human. Interestingly, werewolves are far more likely to have the "naked shapeshifter" problem than vampires or witches.

* Sexism is rampant in the werewolf world. Female werewolves [[note]]Who were never called "wifwolves" despite what some pedants claim. "Were" means "man" as a unisex term for human, not specifically a male human. A lady werewolf wishing to differentiate from her male counterparts is more likely to call herself a "werebitch" instead.[[/note]] are less often depicted than males, which makes some sense since werewolves are arguably a metaphor for male aggression. When lady werewolves ''are'' depicted, it's especially rare to see a female alpha; there may even be an explicit rule that females are not allowed to lead. This aspect of the mythos is edging into {{discredited| trope}} territory though, with gender equality being the norm in modern speculative fiction. In visual media, female werewolves are [[BeautyIsNeverTarnished still rare]], and onscreen transformations are just about non-existent due to censorship reasons (her clothes being shredded in the process of transformation). Of course, there are a lot of female werewolves in works by the UsefulNotes/{{furry fandom}} [[CuteMonsterGirl because]], [[RuleOfSexy well...]]

* Sexism is rampant in the werewolf world. Female werewolves [[note]]Who were never called "wifwolves" despite what some pedants claim. "Were" means "man" as a unisex term for human, not specifically a male human. A lady werewolf wishing to differentiate from her male counterparts is more likely to call herself a "werebitch" instead.[[/note]] are less often depicted than males, and it's especially rare to see a female alpha of a pack; there may even be an explicit rule that females are not allowed to serve as alpha. This aspect of the mythos is edging into {{discredited| trope}} territory, though. In visual media, female werewolves are [[BeautyIsNeverTarnished still rare]], and onscreen transformations are just about non-existent due to censorship reasons (her clothes being shredded in the process of transformation). Of course, there are a lot of female werewolves in works by the UsefulNotes/{{furry fandom}} [[CuteMonsterGirl because]], [[RuleOfSexy well...]]

* Sexism is rampant in the werewolf world. Female werewolves [[note]]Who were never called "wifwoles" despite what some pedants claim. "Were" means "man" as a unisex term for human, not specifically a male human. A lady werewolf wishing to differentiate from her male counterparts is more likely to call herself a "werebitch" instead.[[/note]] are less often depicted than males, and it's especially rare to see a female alpha of a pack; there may even be an explicit rule that females are not allowed to serve as alpha. This aspect of the mythos is edging into {{discredited| trope}} territory, though. In visual media, female werewolves are [[BeautyIsNeverTarnished still rare]], and onscreen transformations are just about non-existent due to censorship reasons (her clothes being shredded in the process of transformation). Of course, there are a lot of female werewolves in works by the UsefulNotes/{{furry fandom}} [[CuteMonsterGirl because]], [[RuleOfSexy well...]]

** Note that this is based on what was [[ScienceMarchesOn up until recently thought to be]] actual lupine behavior, but in fact it's not true of real wolves. In the wild, a wolf pack is usually a family, and the alpha male and female are simply the parents of the lower-ranking wolves. Rather than rise up and challenge their parents for leadership, the children just leave when they're a few years old and find mates, becoming alphas of their own packs. (The confusion came in because up until recently, most zoological studies of wolves used wolves in captivity; as it turns out, strange wolves thrown together in captivity, much like strange humans in captivity, start acting out PrisonTropes).

* Sexism is rampant in the werewolf world. Female werewolves (wifwolves, since "werewolf" means "manwolf" and "wifwolf" means "womanwolf") are less often depicted than males, and it's especially rare to see a female alpha of a pack; there may even be an explicit rule that females are not allowed to serve as alpha. This aspect of the mythos is edging into {{discredited| trope}} territory, though. In visual media, wifwolves are [[BeautyIsNeverTarnished still rare]], and onscreen transformations are just about non-existent due to censorship reasons (her clothes being shredded in the process of transformation). Of course, there are a lot of wifwolves in works by the UsefulNotes/{{furry fandom}} [[CuteMonsterGirl because]], [[RuleOfSexy well...]]

* If a werewolf is able to control the transformation, it sometimes raises the question of [[FridgeLogic what he gets out of turning into a wolf]]. One common answer is that he hunts animals, or just run in the wilderness with his pack. This could be because of some supernatural compulsion, or he might just make him feel good. Often this desire is treated [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything as a metaphor]].

* Sexism is rampant in the werewolf world. Female werewolves are less often depicted than males, and it's especially rare to see a female alpha of a pack; there may even be an explicit rule that females are not allowed to serve as alpha. This aspect of the mythos is edging into {{discredited| trope}} territory, though. In visual media, female werewolves are [[BeautyIsNeverTarnished still rare]], and onscreen transformations are just about non-existent due to censorship reasons (her clothes being shredded in the process of transformation). Of course, there are a lot of female werewolves in works by the UsefulNotes/{{furry fandom}} [[CuteMonsterGirl because]], [[RuleOfSexy well...]]

* Werewolves are often depicted in UrbanFantasy as instinctive or traditional [[FurAgainstFang enemies of vampires]]. (This is a very recent phenomenon, derived almost entirely from the influence of the TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness games.)

* Werewolves sometimes find themselves [[FurAgainstFang pitted against vampires]].

* Sexism is rampant in the werewolf world. Female werewolves are less often depicted than males, and it's especially rare to see a female alpha of a pack; there may even be an explicit rule that females are not allowed to serve as alpha. This aspect of the mythos is edging into {{discredited| trope}} territory, though. In visual media, female werewolves are [[BeautyIsNeverTarnished still rare]], and onscreen transformations are just about non-existent due to censorship reasons (her clothes being shredded in the process of transformation). Of course, there are a lot of female werewolves in works by the {{furry fandom}} [[CuteMonsterGirl because]], [[RuleOfSexy well...]]

** ''WolfMan'': In [[TheFifties '50s]] horror films, the transformation usually took the form of a [[BeastMan hairy humanoid]] with a scattering of animal features, such as pointed ears, fangs, claws, and maybe a more canine nose or even a tail, but otherwise remaining almost entirely human, like LittleBitBeastly (The "classic" Wolf Man appearance is not entirely dissimilar to the symptoms of a rare genetic disorder, hypertrichosis.) Common with ClothingDamage. May be used as a GameFace to intimidate, or a PartialTransformation between full man and full wolf.

** MultiformBalance: A werewolf might be able to assume more than one of the forms listed above, each with its own advantages. For example in 3rd Edition ''DungeonsAndDragons'', lycanthropes can either take either a full animal form or a hybrid form resembling PettingZooPeople.

** Occasionally, the cure is to consume a lock of wolfsbane before the next full moon, ignoring the poisonous nature of the plant.

*** [[FridgeBrilliance This works either way]]. A pack made up of random people whose only thing in common is that they were turned into werewolves might plausibly interact this way. But a pack composed of a single family may act more like wild wolves, showing deference to the elders.

*** Therefore, a pack made up of random people whose only thing in common is that they were turned into werewolves might plausibly interact like this.

** Averted in ''TheDresdenFiles'' when two werewolves get it on (off screen) "while fuzzy". However, it results in them catching a form of magical disease.

** ''[[SavageWolves Wolf]]'': The basic no-frills transformation is [[{{Animorphism}} man into wolf]], ending up looking just like what you'd see in the woods or a zoo.
** ''[[BigBadassWolf Dire Wolf]]'': like the above, but either ''much'' bigger, or far more muscular, often with long, rather un-lupine claws, and a grizzly-bear physique.

* [[VoluntaryShapeshifting Completely at will]]: This is usually limited to members of separate werewolf species (where shapeshifting is their natural ability) or those possessing magic spells. When operating under this rule, sometimes during full moons (or nights closest to full moon) they may often have no control over whether or not they shapeshift.

* A werewolf may maintain their human mind while transformed, or they may [[TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody receive the mind of that animal]]. Or end up somewhere in between. Or [[UnstoppableRage they may just go crazy]]. In either case, they may also be subject to an [[HorrorHunger irresistible urge to dine on human flesh]]. As a general rule, the more voluntary their transformations, the more control the individual retains in their wolf-shape -- it wouldn't make much sense to voluntarily choose a transformation that requires going nuts, would it? -- Sometimes this is subverted and the shapeshifter might voluntarily enter this form knowing they'll lose control, but in these cases the shapeshifter will almost always turn out to be unrepentantly and totally evil and get a thrill off this much like a serial killer. In fact, some anthropologists believe werewolf lore was in part a way of the ancients explaining serial killers who horribly mutilated their victims.

** ''[[EverythingsWorseWithWolves Wolf]]'': The basic no-frills transformation is [[{{Animorphism}} man into wolf]], ending up looking just like what you'd see in the woods or a zoo.