Real Life 'Vampires' Scared Of Being Stereotyped

For most people, vampires are matters of fiction. A new study on real life 'vampires' not only shows they exist but also claims that they are ethical and normal people who are afraid to come clean on their identities for the fear of discriminated against.

Self-identified real life vampires are people who require blood to meet their energy requirements. According to Fox News, such vampires take blood, from a consenting adult, through a small incision in the chest.

The new study based on 11 people who self-identified as vampires, claims that members of the community come from all walks of life and are scared to approach healthcare professionals for fear of being stereotyped or having a psychological problem.

"The gist of the article is that self-identified vampires are probably more common than most people realize. A lot of people probably assume they are younger kids or young people who watch 'Twilight' or other pop-culture types of things. Yet, the real vampire community, which is self-defined by people who claim the need for extra energy (either blood or psychic energy), tend not to fit that demographic stereotype," said DJ Williams, associate professor at Idaho University, who authored the study.

The real-life vampire community is said to be ethical as they often always seek a consenting donor but when such people seek professional help, they may be misjudged.

"People of all kinds sometimes struggle with relationship issues or have a death in family or struggles with career and job-type issues. Some of these people with alternate identities may come to a therapist with these issues, and if clinicians are open and educated about this group they should be able to help the individual much better," Williams said.

The study has been published in the journal Critical Social Work.