Betazoid

File:ReittanGrax.jpg

Reittan Grax, a Betazoid male (2366)

File:Lwaxana troi.jpg

Lwaxana Troi, a Betazoid female (2368)

The Betazoids are a telepathic humanoid civilization originating from the planet Betazed, and are members 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. There was also a less risky but far more cruel telepathic way of handling the Jem'Hadar, but the Betazoids rejected this solution, since it would have cost them their peaceful culture.

Physiology

Externally, Betazoids are physically indistinguishable from Humans in every aspect but one, the irises of their eyes are completely black. They can even cross-breed with Humans, along with other humanoid races like Klingons and Tavnians. Betazoids have a gestation period of ten months. (TNG: "The Child")

A characteristic black Betazoid eye

Betazoids reach 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" during which their sex drive increases by a factor of four or more. (TNG: "Manhunt")

Mature Betazoids can also suffer from Zanthi fever, that causes them to lose control over the projective aspect of their empathy. That can result in people around them acting as if they had experienced the same general emotional state as the affected Betazoid, though they are directed by their own subconscious desires, fears, and other emotions. (DS9: "Fascination")

Telepathic abilities

Betazoids are natural telepaths; most develop this ability in adolescence, but a few are born with their telepathic abilities already active, such as Tam Elbrun. (TNG: "Tin Man") These individuals are almost always extremely talented and powerful in telepathic terms, but also unable to screen out the noise of other people's minds, so they generally suffer mental problems of varying severity depending mostly on when the problem was diagnosed. On the other end of the scale are a few individuals who develop psionic abilities which are far below average for this species (i.e. Lon Suder). Those Betazoids are barely able to sense even strong emotions of other people, not to speak of thoughts.

The common psionic abilities of Betazoids are going from sensing thoughts and/or emotions, over projecting thoughts and/or emotions, to manipulating the minds of others. (TNG: "The Price"; DS9: "Fascination") How capable they are in performing any of those feats depends on their genetically defined psionic strength, their psionic training, (TNG: "Haven") their familiarity with the scanned being and their general mental and physical condition.

Inter-species reproduction involving Betazoids often affects the psionic abilities of the offspring - most commonly the children of such a union develop empathic abilities as their primary psionic talent, while their 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 (for example, an imzadi). All full Betazoids are unable to read the thoughts of Ferengi, Breen, Ullians, or Dopterians, 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")

According to the novel The Battle of Betazed, some hidden mental teachings are able to unlock the ability of telekinesis in Betazoids.

Diseases

Betazoids suffer from several diseases which include:

• Zanthi fever

Culture and Tradition

Betazed has a complex hereditary nobility; 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")

In the Betazoid wedding ceremony, all participants are traditionally naked, not only the bride and groom, but the guests as well. (TNG: "Haven", "Cost of Living"; Star Trek Nemesis)

At one time, it was fashionable for Betazoid women to wear elaborate wigs that encaged small animals. The practice, which was cruel to the animals, was stopped when one (unknown) woman stood up against it. (TNG: "Half a Life")

It has been speculated that Betazoid society in the past was matriarchal, (TNG: "Angel One") as well as matrilineal. (Star Trek Nemesis)

Their religious belief system may involve polytheism because in one instance, Lwaxana Troi used the exclamation, "Thank the Four Deities". (TNG: "Manhunt")

People

See: Betazoids

Appearances

• TNG:
  • "Haven"
  • "Manhunt"
  • "Tin Man"
  • "Ménage à Troi"
  • "The Drumhead"
  • "Night Terrors"
  • "Half a Life"
  • "Cost of Living"
  • "Dark Page"
• DS9:
  • "The Forsaken"
  • "Fascination"
  • "The Muse"
• VOY:
  • "Caretaker"
  • "Meld"
  • "Basics, Part I"
  • "Basics, Part II"
  • "Counterpoint"