Polarity Psychology

Unexpected psychological effects of interaction between sapients of such extreme size difference had been noted since as far back as the war for Earth, first seen among human and nonhuman soldiers interacting. Over the years, the study of these effects gave rise to a new field of psychology, Polarity.

First Meeting

The study of Polarity starts with what a person feels the first time they ever meet another of the other size. These feelings vary wildly from person to person, and many feel several at the same time, or multiple in quick succession. Nonhumans often describe these types of sensations when meeting their first human:

1. Sudden desire to protect
2. Compulsions to touch
3. Sudden adoration
4. Sexual desires
5. Intrusive thoughts of harming

The first three are the most common, with two and three depending heavily on whether the nonhuman finds humans to be cute and how much. The fourth has been tied to microphilia. The fifth, however, is nearly as common as the first three. It does not mean the nonhuman wishes to hurt a human, but it is described as the realization of the extreme difference in power between a human and a nonhuman. The nonhuman realizes what they could do to a human, and the human would not be able to do anything about it. For most, this ends up driving up the intensity of the first desire, to protect. Occasionally, it may be related to sexual desires too, as an extension of micro/macrophilia.
Humans often describe these sensations when meeting their first nonhuman:

1. Curious sense of ease
2. Desire to be touched
3. A loss of inhibitions
4. Sexual desires
5. Sudden feeling of terror

These parallel what the nonhuman feels. Many humans describe a sense of safety, or rightness in the world, when meeting their first nonhuman. The second and third ones depend on how a human might feel about physical contact, with many becoming surprisingly keen to the idea of physical contact with a nonhuman. The fourth is again connected to macro/microphilia. The 5th is, again, common and just like the nonhuman, the human realizes what can happen to them if a nonhuman decided to do anything to them. Sometimes, this may actually lead to a sexual thrill, another aspect of micro/macrophilia.
Others may describe other sensations, but these are the most consistent. The feeling of terror used to be much more common and profoundly impactful on humans as to cause actual fleeing terror, but adaptation over the last century through cultural education preparing humans at a young age means most humans do not give into fear on their first meeting, but may still feel that sudden terror.

Relationship Development

Another element of Polarity is the study of how relationships develop between humans and nonhumans. Consistently, these relationships seem to build and strengthen much quicker than similar sized relationships. The most often accepted theory as to why this happens is closely related to the lupari concept of 'waffara.' Lupari experience rapidly growing friendships similar to mixed size relationships due to their enhanced empathy, in that they put a lot of trust into one another not to abuse their vulnerabilities. Likewise, a human and nonhuman relationship is built upon trust.
The human trusts the nonhuman to do them no harm, to not abuse the extreme difference in power in the relationship. While the nonhuman does not face having to entrust the human, they have to accept the human's trust in them. Trust, according to lupari psychology, is the strongest foundation for a relationship, and the quickest way to build it. Because of this basis of trust, humans and nonhumans more quickly take to entrusting one another with emotional trust, too, where they open up to each other more readily on a personal level.

Macrophilia and Microphilia

Another field of Polarity is the sexual interests that crop up with the size difference. The official terms for it are macrophilia and microphilia, depending on which direction the interest goes, but are otherwise very closely related. Those that feel these desires express a range of interests from harmless sexual attraction to those of vastly different size, all the way to fantasies of mass carnage. The latter and related interests are not considered red flags in someone's personality. Both humans and nonhumans consistently express such interests, and simulations have become a healthy medium for these interests.

Separation Anxiety

An unfortunate side effect of close intersize relationships such as the guardian and charge pairs, is a problem that arises during extended periods of separation, or when the time comes to part ways - separation anxiety. Many charges describe an intense feeling of safety, comfort, and happiness when with their guardians. Likewise, many guardians describe a sense of comfortable ease and happiness when their charges are nearby.
These feelings become a central aspect of their relationship, a bond that becomes painful when broken. Strongly bonded guardians and charges that have been separated both describe instances of nausea, nightmares, irrational fears, inability to focus, cold sweats, and sudden feelings of dread, as some of the most common symptoms. Symptoms vary from person to person, as well as their intensity. The reasoning behind the anxiety is different for the guardian and the charge. For the guardian, they begin to fear for their absent charge's safety, while a charge begins to long for their guardian's protection. However, studies show that the matter isn't nearly that simple, and separation anxiety is actually tied to the aforementioned feelings that a guardian and charge feels when together.
Put simply, they long for each other's companionship, not necessarily the security the relationship brings. It is purely a psychological reaction, and psychiatric medications exist to try to help with this. Separation anxiety is not unique to guardians and charges. It is also commonly found in mated couples and sometimes in mixed-size, unpaired friendships.