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I am sure you have all read Twilight and some of you have read the House of Night series , I am also sure some of you are more versed than I in mythological theory than myself. But I have been thinking alot as of late ( as I do when I read - I know I know - it's dangerous for me but ...) I was wondering if anyone believes in either of the Imprinting theories presented in these books.

Twilight - specifically Eclipse - tells how a werewolf imprints on their soul mates and the wolf will be what ever that soul mate needs a baby sitter , a brest friend , a boy/girl friend , and even lover when the time comes.

House of Night states that Imprinting happens during a vampiric feeding in which the parties have had a romantic past. It states that their can be Imprints that are purely pyshical to purely mental and everything between but the bond can be broken, albeit in a painful manner for the human as the bond runs soul deep, when the vamp imprints with another vamp or human.

SO what I am asking all of my loverly brothers and sisters , is this... Do you believe in this kind of a bond , why or why

All imprinting is, is a silly concept thought up by Stephenie Meyer to make a book about a lot of sparkling faeries and overgrown dogs seem more interesting.

Even were it not a silly concept and included in more vampire/werewolf books, it'd still be a bad one, considering it'd apply to nothing in the real world, seeing as there is no such thing as vampires/vampyres/werewolves/overgrown dogs.

It's an idea in fictional story books, I think that's enough said really.

Well despite my speculation that this concept is reality challenged...it is that...a concept.

Declaring it as fiction brings nothing of substance to the table.

What I am interested in...and you will have to excuse me as I am unfamiliar with the source of this concept...

To the original poster: while this idea seems romantic, I would ask you to ponder how fair it is on the one "imprinted", and what then becomes of free will?

I don't know that much about Lycan history to say. However i could probably say it's about as equilvalent to a vampire who can read people's energy signatures and recognize say........a past love or someone they knew before.

very good and i never thought about it that way , however i didn't post this based one the effects there of , i was merely wondering if anyone out there thought this type of thing exsisted in the real world

I would have to say no to it existing in the real world for the same reason MBK listed. I just don't feel that such a bond could exist between two people and the idea of it really is better for stories.

Here is what I have found on Wikipedia..of course we know that it isn't the honest to God's truth but can be some useful information.

Here is the website:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imprinting_(psychology)

Sexual imprinting
Sexual imprinting is the process by which a young animal learns the characteristics of a desirable mate. For example, male zebra finches appear to prefer mates with the appearance of the female bird that rears them, rather than mates of their own type (Immelmann, 1972). The famous psychologist John Money called it the lovemap.

Sexual imprinting on inanimate objects is a popular theory concerning the development of sexual fetishism. For example, according to this theory, imprinting on shoes or boots (as with Lorenz' geese) would be the cause of shoe fetishism.


[edit] Westermarck effect
Reverse sexual imprinting is also seen: when two people live in close domestic proximity during the first few years in the life of either one, both are desensitized to later close sexual attraction. This phenomenon, known as the Westermarck effect, was first formally described by Finnish anthropologist Edvard Westermarck. The Westermarck effect has since been observed in many places and cultures, including in the Israeli kibbutz system, and the Chinese Shim-pua marriage customs, as well as in biological-related families.

In the case of the Israeli kibbutzim (collective farms), children were reared somewhat communally in peer groups—groups based on age, not biological relation. A study of the marriage patterns of these children later in life revealed that out of the nearly 3,000 marriages that occurred across the kibbutz system, only fourteen were between children from the same peer group. Of those fourteen, none had been reared together during the first six years of life. This result provides evidence not only that the Westermarck effect is demonstrable, but that it operates during the critical period from birth to the age of six (Shepher, 1983).

When close proximity during this critical period does not occur—for example, where a brother and sister are brought up separately, never meeting one another—they may find one another highly sexually attractive when they meet as adults. This phenomenon is known as genetic sexual attraction. This observation is consistent with the hypothesis that the Westermarck effect evolved because it suppressed inbreeding. This attraction may also be seen with cousin couples.

Sounds like an uncommon over looked theory that someone found once again and claimed it for a fantastical reference. Nothing like manipulating a word into a fictitious concept.

Err... I very much doubt that the author based their idea upon something real, and then manipulated it, when it quite obviously something fictitious. If it is a fantasy novel, then it is just that, fantasy! Something the author made up!

If I make up ideas and put them into my books, does that mean that readers might consider these things to be truth? Will they start thinking that the concept of them is possible, and that I perhaps based my ideas upon some special lesser known knowledge I have... NO, because I made it up!

no i dont belive "imprinting" really excists but i do think that by "imprinting" the author of the twilight series only meant that whoever was imprinting apon someone they only fell deeply in love with them which also can be said as "they found their soulmate". i think that its a made up word for the real life feelings of "love at first sight".

I was basing my speculation on the wikipedia post that was brought into the discussion: Imprinting (psychological).

Nothing to get your nickers in a twist about.

Imprinting, like leaving your mark of do not touch on someone?

If it existed before the movie, wouldn't this have already been a topic of discussion? There's your answer. lol

Imprinting a book is using the imagination fly away. All the characters and places, are all created for entertainment. Yes, there are some books created from actual fact.

Hey, I know this is a rather random question, but since we are talking about Imprinting...I would like to ask you something.

In your opinion, do you think that the soul mates of the werewolves/lycans/vampires that have imprinted on live for an eternity just as their Imprinters...?

It is a question that has been bugging me for a little while now. I was just hoping you knew the answer.

I do not think Imprinting is real but merely used in Twilight series but as for Soulmates I do believe..I have never heard of Imprinting before Meyers came up with it, who knows though

I am fairly certain this concept has its origins before that of the Twilight series.

I hate to burst your bubble Cherry, but rarely are concepts entirely original. *read never.

If you read the post I put up above it is a concept somewhat related to what she is referring to in the books but in a slightly different manner. I think the author may have been familiar with the term and then used it to make it sound more interesting. My opinion.

I agree with ~Deadlydesire~ and therefore still refute the begrudged post brought against me.

The wikipedia may not be the best source of universal information, but it does its job adequettely enough. Therefore, any "concept" brought on by the use of uncommon terms, or overlooked phrases could be considered "new" by younger audiences that do not do their homework and tend to presume too much.

yeah i believe in it. that's wat happened between me and my girl, i ended up imprinting on her.

i believe that it's true but it never happened to me

I am not begrudging anyone thier opinion. After all if i didn't want it i wouldn't have brought this to the main forum , a friend of mine is having a probelm with a relationship and he happens to be very spiritual and believes that there can be more on than one love for a person. I believe in this idea and I thank you for all the discussion I have seen on the subject thus far. It has been very interesting. I do wonder as posted above what part free will would play in something like this or if it would apply at all. Not once have I heard of an origianal concept" because , honestly what is a concept but an idea fuled by someone else's thoughts?

~hugs Adina~

Well, I've heard about it in "first-hand" accounts and experiences, but the only place I've seen "imprinting,bonding, and spiritual bloodletting" go into depth is:

The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer

The Blue Blood Series by Melissa De La Cruz

The House of Night Series by PC Cast & Kristin Cast

I'm sorry, but I'm sick of everyone using Twilight as a reference to everything in this subject, if there are two other references, and more. Versatility is a virtue.

Of course, Adina already posted the def. for bonding/imprinting in both Twilight and HON.

Blue bloods - the vampires are human reincarnations of angels who are looking for redemption. They get their angel memories as well as their human past life memories when they turn 16.

But anyways, their imprinting is similar to HON, except they can have many donors at one time, the donor gets an emotional bond for them, but not necessarily romantic, they become highly protective over the vampire.

I don't believe in vampires, unless you're talking about the spectral/ghost like kind. Werewolves only because I've encountered the black shuck dogs/hell hounds. And they closely resemble eachother.

But as for imprinting, I would have to see and KNOW it was a genuine vampire/werewolf, and watch the process myself or be the one undergoing it.

Its fiction from a book.

Not to mention ~Bloodmother~ and ~Adina~, the Gotham Halo ceremonies and ritualistic behavior that goes on behind the scenes. As well as the "living vampires" of Frances, Japan as well as other countries and cities.

Adults seemingly trying oh so hard to come out of their spiritual shell so to speak. This concept would be just another way to bond one individual with another in their own way.

{{hugs}} bloodmother , thank you , yes my friend mentioned that one as well but i wasn't sure about teh complete ref. so i didn't use it , and the above post ( sorry didn't catch your name) makes a good point. it could be a much easier way to let someone come out their shell. or coffin. or forrest or what have you...

In reference to how it is used in the books I do believe we do imprint on each other..to imprint is to leave your mark..so yeah it happens everyday.

As far as being able to love more than just one person it is very much possible and does happen. Free will does have alot to do with it I think as we are not chained to just one person but free to experience many..but that is our choices to do so.

good point. free will does play a big part in the choices we make concerning the heart. but have you ever wondered if there is , i don't know something more , to the process?

Are you meaning there being something that guides us that we have no control over?

yes, exactly , something drives you to find , the best possible match. other than selctive breeding and science aside.

I believe in what you are referring to would be called fate. Fate leads us to where we are supposed to go in some instances..whether it be to find that someone or land a new job..etc.

This twilight thing is becoming beyond a joke.
The concept of someone imprinting on someone is completely flawed in the books, it's not practical in a modern day society nor does it make any sense.
One cannot possibly fathom having that sort of bond with someone. That bond doesn't exsist. Any bonds between two people always have that impending doom. It can be broken. Throughout these books it's a permanant thing.

As I said. This is horribly flawed and illogical.

while it might be flawed and illogical , i believe that somewhere it can exsist. i mean where else would they get the ideas for it. and acctually the House of Night states that the bond can be broken.

fate i guess could seem like the most logical explainantion. thank you .

There does exist true bonding between two people..whether it be family or a true love. I know we do not see much of that anymore but it does exist.

I do believe that you can leave your mark on someone. I think it to be more of a mind thing than a heart issue. I don't believe the heart has much to do with anything. It is just a muscle in your chest and that is all. I think that if someone marks you, that you are changed in some way forever. Could be small or a big change but change nonetheless.

I agree that it isn't the heart as stated above as it is just a muscle but more it is the touching of our soul..our very essence.

yes exactly! thank you. and if that mark were strong enouugh then infact a sort of bond be an " imprinting" or not would change the way you feel and the way you try to get as close to that person as possible to have them in your life no matter than pain?

Yes there are those that love someone so much that even though they may not be able to be with them physically may be with them spiritually and will forever have that bond and that love.

Thank you Deadly! that is what i was getting at with the imprinting theory not that i am the typical teenager obsessed with a fantasy. thank you thank you thank you!

You are quite welcome Adina..just giving my opinion is all and glad that it has helped.

more then helped!

Humans do not imprint. Imprinting in those fictional books was merely the authors taking a real psychological term and 'fluffing' it up to make for a better story.
Some animals DO imprint on others of their species though. But this is an instinct that is born into them to ensure the survival of their species. It is as DD posted 'sexual imprinting'--just more elaborate than what Wikipedia has available on the topic.
But basically it is for sexual procreation and not to find their soulmates. And this is a behavior that has only been found in some animals--not all. And humans certainly do not behave like this when 'mating'--there is free will and choice involved. And the imprinting in reality and imprinting in the books are very very different.

I agree with AliceJane, to an extent, I believe you can be one with someone you truly love.

But does this true love last forever? I know it can happen but in most cases and now days, no..I think You can bond and be imprinted that way, to love One with all You have and all You are...And I truly love my Grandkids so in that sense yes You can truly love them..And why does everyOne down Twilight, they are very good books to read..*shrugs* But to be like they are in books, I dont believe..This is my Opinion

I honestly think that if some people can believe in religion (although i do not personally), then why cant there be something like this that actually exists?
think about it. all religion is, in my opinion, was likely just something someone made up because that was their perception of how the world worked, it got published, word got around, and now you have total cult actions taking place in various cultures.


and because someone else thought it made sense in some fucked up way, then they decided this must be it, and it took off from there.

i do not know if this type of things exists but i do believe that it is more likely to exist than any god.
energies can connect, and they can connect in very deep ways, so deeply rooted into the soul as i would say, that it's excruciatingly painful to lose whatever youre attached to.

remember, all the "facts" we have today, are just as likely to be disproved as the guarantee that everything dies one day, so that means that reality is only ones perception of the world and therefore nothing and everything at once could be real...or completely fiction.

all you need is that one person to believe in it, and get the right followers, and youll have a whole new thing started.

i say its best to keep an open mind about such things.

but take that, apply if you can lol to this topic.

lets talk reality about imprints
this from my own experience
a child imprints from the first parent
it sees or is held by
this is strengthened over the course of its first months
my son first held by his mother has her atitude and is much like her in temperment
my daughter born as the result of a c-section
imprinted from me as i first held her
and she opened her eyes to see me
she has my temperment and attitudes
towards much of life

you may doubt this but check and see who held you first

I think an author created the word "imprinting" to discribe what most of us have experienced. For those of us that believe in reincarnation we know that "feeling" we get when we come across a soul that we have previously known. I think the feelings that are drawn up from the meeting is what they are trying to name.

As to be real, of course it's real, just not in the fantastical way of the fantasy world. But it is true that we feel the common threads from the souls of our previous lives.

LordPeace and MadameMinaMurray , thank you both i enjoyed your posts very much. And LordPeace , i would like to continue this conversation further that was a very interesting theory. i will have to check that out i think it was my dad. but anyway. i wouldn't expect imprinting to something as fantasical as it was in anything afore mentioned books but i do believe that it plays a part in the some of the more spiritual people of the world chooses a lover, mate , partner what have you. there just seems to be so many souls that at least some of them were meant to be together and how would those souls find one another if they were not imprinted so to say at some point in a past life or in the summerlands.

Who says society cannot use this so called "imprinting" theory? Where is the proof that is has not been done yet? I mean hell, we have daughters acting like their mothers, and sons acting like their fathers... So I do think that a bit of imprinting goes on throughout the individuals life based on the monotany of their lives and who they "hang" with.

There is the idea of love at first sight. That could be a form of imprinting but it doesn't control you. Well maybe your thoughts for most of the day. lol You shouldn't take things from books that are writen for fun and make them real. There are many myths that have grew over time for us to enjoy but never is it what it seems. I think the "imprinting" idea was made up to show some humor in the story.

i erpsonally think that imprinting can be done in many ways. but that is just me , maybe the masses would be more comfortable with pyschic strings or soul mates? and as far as this theory ruling my life . it doesn't. and i am not necessairly trying to make fiction fact i was only asking if someone believed that there was something similar to this theory. this is a big world and i am sure we don't know everything about it. if you had something so personal and humiliating and wonderful would you write it down for the world to laugh at?