what do c1/c2/c3/etc mean?
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in my littles are known au, there are need levels assigned at 16 (and retested at 21, or when needed). alongside classification & approximate little age (if applicable)
classifications:
caregiver (c): has a need to care for others, especially littles. caregiving drive can present in many ways, and caregivers can have caregiver-drop if their needs aren't met, or if high-stress events happen. ~20% of the population are caregivers.
little (l): has a need to be cared for and/or allowed to act younger (0-19). this isn't pretend, for them; they are genuinely their little age, although how deep they are into their regression can vary depending on the moment. often need accommodations, especially higher-needs littles. can expierence little-drop if needs aren’t met, or if high-stress events happen. ~14% of the population are littles.
flip (f): has both drives; to care for and be younger and cared for. flips may lean towards one classification, or another, or they may feel fully equal. some flips will expiernece their caregiver drive while little, while for others they're always seperate. can expierence both caregiver-drop and little-drop. ~16% of the population are flips.
neutral (n): has neither drive; regular range, your average person, similar to our world. neutrals make up a primary amount of the workforce & those who have children; classifications can and do do those things, but less often. neutrals may have leanings, in their hormones or behaviours, which they can be classified for. ~25% of the population are "true" neutrals, ~25% are neutral-leans.
caregiver need levels:
c-1 (low-needs): needs to caregive in some way ~1-25% of the time, or around a few times a month. they may also do lower-intensity caregiving more often. these caregivers can vary in the same way any level can -- a c1 can be an intense, parental-style figure, and a c3 can be a hands-off uncle type. the difference is **how much time they need it**. they do expierence caregiver-drop, although less commonly, as they have less of a need to be fufilled in the first place. c1 is the second most-common caregiver classification.
c-2 (moderate-needs): needs to caregive in some way ~35-65% of the time, or around a few times a week. they have a strong caregiving drive that needs to be fufilled, whether that be through work or caring for littles. c2 is the most common caregiver classification.
c-3 (high-needs): needs to caregive in some way ~65-100% of the time, or near-daily. they have an extremely strong need to caregive, and often won't be fufilled unless they have little(s) to care for. they are also especially drop-prone, moreso than the other caregiver need levels. c3 is the rarest caregiver classification.
little need levels:
l-1 (low-needs): needs to be cared for and/or be little ~1-25% of the time, or around a few times a month. this doesn't mean their classification doesn't impact their life; they may still be triggered by certain things, or not be able to schedule their regression. they do expierence little-drop, albeit less often, as they have less of a need to fulfill in the first place. l1s do not have to be only older littles - they can have any little age! l1 is the second most-common little classification.
l-2 (moderate-needs): needs to be cared for and/or be little ~35-65% of the time, or around a few times a week. l2s will usually need some form of accomodations, whether that be less work-hours or more allowed "drop days." they often need a steady caregiver and/or support system, however, they can usually manage their schedule around their regression, as long as they are well-supported. l2 is the most common little classification.
l-3 (high-needs): needs to be cared for and/or little ~65-100% of the time, or near-daily. l3s tend to struggle more with everyday life, which is why in this universe, they are very supported and accomodated. littles in general, but especially l3s, do not have to work if they can't or don't wish to, and may recieve a little's stipend if applicable. there are also programs for adoption, match-making, etc. l3s are especially prone to little-drop. l3 is the rarest little classification.
flip need levels:
flips get a need level for their little and caregiver side, so they would be labeled "f-cx-lx". personally, i am a f-c2-l3; i involuntarily regress or feel younger near-daily, i need often caregiving, but i also have a strong drive to caregive -- as long as my little side is supported enough to handle that. the same ideas that apply to caregives and littles apply to flips, just for both sides instead of only one.
neutral classifications:
neutrals do not have need levels, as they have no real "need". however, there are four different classifications of neutrals, due to hormonal and/or behavioural leanings:
n-c (neutral with caregiver tendencies): light caregiving tendencies; does not expierence caregiver-drop, but otherwise has some similarities to a caregiver.
n-l (neutral with little tendencies): light little tendencies; does not expierence regression or little-drop, but otherwise has some similarities to a little.
n-f (neutral with flip tendencies): light little and caregiver tendencies; same as the above, simply with both.
n-n (true neutral): has no tendencies either way.
