Changes: Betazoid

Revision as of 14:51, 16 March 2008

The Betazoids are a telepathic humanoid species from the planet Betazed, a member of the United Federation of Planets.

Physiology

Appearance

Betazoids look identical to humans from Earth, except that all Betazoids have black eyes.

Telepathy

Most Betazoids develop telepathic abilities during adolescence, including the following:

sensing emotions of other sentient beings at long distances;
sensing thoughts of other sentient beings;
communication by projecting thoughts; and
projecting illusions or sensations.

The effectiveness of these depend on the inherent ability of the telepath, the degree of training they have undergone, and the species of the subject. Some species, such as Ferengi, Breen, Tellerites, Ullians, or Dopterians are unreadable.

Trained Betazoids are also more resistant to psionic attacks. Myra Elbrey was the sole survivor of a Grey attack on the USS Rutledge because she was able to screen out their psionic control. (Star Trek: Hidden Frontier: "Enemy Unknown, Part 2")

Inherent telepathic ability varies from individual to individual.

Culture

Betazoids do not really understand the "little white lies" and evasions that lubricate the social intercourse of non-telepaths. They are liable to plunge in to an emotionally intimate conversation based on only the barest acquaintance. Many Betazoids in Starfleet work as counsellors where this sort of behaviour is expected. (TNG, Star Trek: Hidden Frontier)

Betazoids can also act as interpreters for non-verbal species, such as Horta. (Star Trek: Hidden Frontier: "Dancing in the Dark")

People

See: Category:Betazoids

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+[[Image:Myra Elbrey.jpg|thumb|right|[[Myra Elbrey]], a female Betazoid]]
-{{macopy}}
+The '''Betazoids''' are a [[telepathic]] [[humanoid]] species from the planet [[Betazed]], a member of the [[United Federation of Planets]].
-[[Image:BetazoidEmblem.gif|thumb|Emblem of Betazed]]
-The '''Betazoids''' are a [[humanoid]] civilization originating from the planet [[Betazed]], a member of the [[United Federation of Planets]].
-==History and Politics==
-Betazed has enjoyed a relatively untroubled history for the last few centuries. This peaceful existence came to a halt in [[2374]], when the [[Dominion]] invaded and occupied the planet. It is probable that the Dominion occupation ceased after the end of the [[Dominion War]]. ({{DS9|In the Pale Moonlight}})
-:''According to the novel "The Battle of Betazed", the Betazoids were finally able to drive the Jem'Hadar away by the application of a highly dangerous, offensive form of empathy.''
 ==Physiology==
+===Appearance===
-Externally, Betazoids are physically indistinguishable from [[human]]s in every aspect but one, the irises of their eyes are completely black. Betazoids are natural [[telepathy|telepaths]]; most develop this ability in adolescence, but a few, such as [[memoryalpha:Tam_Elbrun|Tam Elbrun]] are born with their telepathic abilities already active. Betazoids who are born with their telepathic abilities "on" usually are unable to screen out the noise of other people's minds and suffer mental problems of varying severity depending mostly on when the problem was diagnosed. An even fewer number of Betazoids, such as [[memoryalpha:Lon_Suder|Lon Suder]], never develop any psionic abilities.
+[[Image:Maya Stadi (ODY102).jpg|thumb|right|[[Maya Stadi]]]]
+Betazoids look identical to [[humans]] from [[Earth]], except that all Betazoids have black eyes.
-Betazoids can [[Inter-species reproduction|cross-breed]] with humans, although this often affects the telepathic abilities of the offspring - most commonly the children of such a union develop [[empathy|empathic]] abilities as their primary psionic talent, while their [[telepathy|telepathic]] abilities, though existing, are rather below average for Betazoids. Usually the telepathy of these half-breeds, without extensive training, is limited to communication with other empaths or telepaths and full telepathic contact with emotionally very close persons ([[Imzadi]]). All full Betazoids are unable to read the thoughts of [[Ferengi]], [[Breen]], [[Ullian]]s, or [[Dopterian]]s, but some half Betazoids have been occasionally successful in sensing the emotions of some of these species. Additionally even full Betazoids seem to be able to psionically influence some of these species ({{TNG|The Price|Ménage à Troi}}; {{DS9|The Forsaken|Fascination}})
-[[Image:Betazoideye.jpg|thumb|A characteristic black Betazoid eye.]]
-Most Betazoids have telepathic capabilities, and most are from weak to medium power. There are, however, a few especially strong telepaths. The capabilities develop in adolescence, and most receive formal training for their power based on strength. They are all different, and sometimes a Betazoid can be born with full capability. This poses strong problems, and often the individuals are hospitalized and even isolated. ({{TNG|Tin Man}})
-Betazoids reach [[REM sleep|rapid eye movement (REM) sleep]] at a different frequency from other humanoids. ({{TNG|Night Terrors}})
-In mid-life, Betazoid females undergo a physiological change known as "''[[the Phase]]''" where their sex drive quadruples or more. ({{TNG|Manhunt}})
+===Telepathy===
-Mature Betazoids can also suffer from [[Zanthi fever]], that causes the individual to lose control over the projective aspect of his/her empathy. That can result in people around that Betazoid acting as if they'd experience the same general emotional state as him/her, though they are directed by their own subconscious desires, fears etc. ({{DS9|Fascination}})
+Most Betazoids develop telepathic abilities during adolescence, including the following:
+* sensing emotions of other sentient beings at long distances;
+* sensing thoughts of other sentient beings;
+* communication by projecting thoughts; and
+* projecting illusions or sensations.
+The effectiveness of these depend on the inherent ability of the telepath, the degree of training they have undergone, and the species of the subject. Some species, such as [[Ferengi]], [[Breen]], [[Tellerite]]s, [[Ullian]]s, or [[Dopterian]]s are unreadable.
+Trained Betazoids are also  more resistant to psionic attacks. [[Myra Elbrey]] was the sole survivor of a [[Grey]] attack on the {{uss|Rutledge}} because she was able to screen out their psionic control. (''[[Star Trek: Hidden Frontier]]'': "[[Enemy Unknown, Part 2]]")
-==Culture and Tradition==
-Betazed has a complex hereditary nobility. A prominent Betazoid diplomat [[Lwaxana Troi]], for example, is "Daughter of the Fifth House, Holder of the [[Sacred Chalice of Rixx]], and Heir to the [[Holy Rings of Betazed]]." Betazoid tradition has children genetically bonded to a future spouse. ({{TNG|Haven}})
+Inherent telepathic ability varies from individual to individual.
-In the Betazoid wedding ceremony, all participants are traditionally naked, not only the soon to be wed, but the guests also. ({{TNG|Haven|Cost of Living}}; {{film|10}})
+==Culture==
-At one time, it was fashionable for Betazoid women to wear elaborate wigs that encaged small [[animal|animals]]. The practice, which was cruel to the animals, was stopped when one (unknown) woman stood up against it. ({{TNG|Half a Life}})
+Betazoids do not really understand the "little white lies" and evasions that lubricate the social intercourse of non-telepaths. They are liable to plunge in to an emotionally intimate conversation based on only the barest acquaintance. Many Betazoids in [[Starfleet]] work as [[counsellor]]s where this sort of behaviour is expected. (''TNG'', ''[[Star Trek: Hidden Frontier]]'')
+Betazoids can also act as interpreters for non-verbal species, such as [[Horta]]. (''[[Star Trek: Hidden Frontier]]'': "Dancing in the Dark")
-It has been speculated that Betazoid society in the past was matriarchal. ({{TNG|Angel One}})
 ==People==
-:'''See''': [[Betazoids]]
+:''See'': [[:Category:Betazoids]]
 [[Category:Betazoids|Betazoid]]