Telepathic humanoids from Betazed, a Federation member world, known for their openness and empathic abilities.
Betazoids are a humanoid people from the planet Betazed whose most striking trait is telepathy. They can sense the emotions and, to varying degrees, the thoughts of others, an ability that usually becomes stronger with age, and most appear very much like humans apart from dark, fully coloured eyes.
Betazoid culture is open and welcoming, with a strong tradition of honesty because deception is so hard to maintain among telepaths. Their society is matriarchal in many of its customs, and weddings and family gatherings are lavish occasions full of ritual and warmth.
The best known Betazoid is Counselor Deanna Troi of the Enterprise-D, whose mother is Lwaxana Troi, a flamboyant and formidable ambassador who appears in several Next Generation episodes. Deanna is half human, which limits her abilities somewhat, though they still prove useful in negotiations and in judging the intentions of strangers. Betazed is a long-standing Federation member, and the Dominion later occupied the planet during the war.