Self-Identified Vampires subject of study by ISU Professor DJ Williams | Local

Dr. D.J. Williams, lead author and associate professor of social work over at Idaho State University, gave a statement saying that those who call themselves “real” vampires and actively seek out blood that they drink in order to obtain energy, avoid informing medical practitioners of their condition because of a very human fear of being greeted by negative reactions.

The data was collected from 11 individuals who have been self-identified vampires for a good number of years and could be trusted to be honest open with Dr. Williams, who concluded that “The real vampire community seems to be a conscientious and ethical one”.

Although the study focused on “a people with a particular alternative identity”, the paper suggests “its findings may also be relevant to people who adopt other alternative identities, such as goths, otherkin, furries, and specific BDSM identities”.

“We live in an age of technology and live in a time when people can select new, alternate identities to fit how they understand themselves better”, the professor told Boise CBS affiliate KBOI-TV. Especially to helping professionals, it is important to be educated on such topics. “People of all kinds sometimes struggle with relationship issues or have a death in (the) family or struggles with career and job-type issues”, he said.

These vampires, identified with different energy needs and resort to different sources of energy, should not stop counselors and helping professionals from treating them without prejudice, Williams said. The participants were selected by vampire leaders known to the authors and adopted a vampire identity for an average of 14.2 years.

Williams states that “without exception”, the vampires were fearful of approaching clinicians for these reasons.

The results of the questionnaires revealed that the vampires had many worries about the disclosure of their identities to helping professionals. They did not want to be judged as being wicked or evil or viewed as being psychotic, delusional or having a psychological problem.

The authors also note that the participants interviewed for the study all appeared to function normally from their answers to questions about their psychiatric histories, social roles and occupations.

And so is apparently the case, as a new study has brought to light the plight of America’s real vampires who are apparently hiding their habits and their health problems from doctors out of fear of being stereotyped. “We challenge social workers and helping professionals to consider embracing aspects of diversity, such as vampirism, which are not typically taught in social work curriculums”.

The paper, titled Do we Always Practice What we Preach? He points out that some of these new identities do not fit into stereotypes. “A lot of clinicians are still not willing to accept these types of studies or are not aware of them”.