What Is Anthropomorphism? 

Anthropomorphism is the act of attributing human characteristics, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities, such as animals, objects, or natural phenomena. This concept is often used in literature, art, and everyday language to help people relate to and understand the world around them.

Anthropomorphism examples

Some common examples of anthropomorphism include:

• Personification: Giving human qualities to abstract concepts or inanimate objects, such as “the wind whispered through the trees” or “the sun smiled down on the earth.
• Animal characters: Portraying animals with human-like traits, emotions, and behaviors, as seen in many children’s stories, fables, and animated films like “The Lion King” or “Zootopia.”
• Deities and supernatural beings: Many religions and mythologies depict gods, spirits, or other supernatural entities with human-like appearances, emotions, and motivations.
• Robotics and AI: As technology advances, people often attribute human-like qualities to robots, virtual assistants, and artificial intelligence, especially when designed to interact with humans in a more natural, relatable way.

What is anthropomorphism?

Anthropomorphism is the act of attributing human characteristics, emotions, motivations, or behaviors to non-human entities, such as animals, objects, or natural phenomena. The word “anthropomorphism” is derived from the Greek words “anthropos,” meaning human, and “morphe,” meaning form or shape.

When we anthropomorphize, we project human qualities onto non-human things, often to better understand, relate to, or communicate about them. This can occur in various contexts, including literature, art, religion, science, and everyday language.

However, it is essential to recognize that anthropomorphism is a human construct and may not always accurately represent the true nature or experiences of the non-human entities portrayed. In some cases, excessive anthropomorphism can lead to misunderstandings or unrealistic expectations about the capabilities or needs of animals, objects, or natural phenomena.

Why do we use anthropomorphism?

Anthropomorphism can serve various purposes, including:

Making inferences based on ourselves

Humans often use their own experiences, emotions, and thought processes as a framework for understanding the world around them. By attributing human-like qualities to non-human entities, we can more easily relate to and make sense of their behavior or characteristics.

This is particularly evident in our interactions with animals, as we often interpret their actions through a human lens, assuming they have similar motivations or feelings.

Coping with threatening situations

Anthropomorphism can serve as a psychological defense mechanism when faced with threatening or uncertain situations. By attributing human-like qualities to potential threats, we can make them feel more familiar, predictable, or controllable. For example, a child might imagine that a scary monster has human-like feelings or can be reasoned with, making the threat seem less daunting.

Social nature of humans

Humans are wired to seek out and engage in social interactions as a highly social species. Anthropomorphism allows us to extend our social cognition to non-human entities, creating a sense of connection or relationship with them. This is evident in how people often talk to their pets, plants, or even inanimate objects as human companions, finding comfort or enjoyment in these pseudo-social interactions.

Creative technique

Anthropomorphism is often used as a creative tool in storytelling, art, and other forms of expression. By giving human-like qualities to non-human characters or concepts, creators can make their works more engaging, relatable, or thought-provoking. Anthropomorphized characters can be powerful metaphors or allegories for human experiences, allowing readers or viewers to explore complex ideas or emotions through a more accessible lens.

While anthropomorphism can serve these various functions, it also has its limitations. Overreliance on anthropomorphism can lead to misunderstandings or false assumptions about non-human entities’ true nature or capabilities. In scientific contexts, it’s crucial to distinguish between anthropomorphic descriptions and objective observations of animal behavior or natural phenomena.

However, when used appropriately, anthropomorphism can be a valuable tool for fostering empathy, understanding, and creativity in our interactions with the world.

Anthropomorphism vs. personification

Anthropomorphism attributes human characteristics, emotions, or behaviors to non-human entities, such as animals, objects, or natural phenomena.

Personification is a literary device that gives human qualities or characteristics to non-human entities, usually inanimate objects or abstract concepts.

While anthropomorphism and personification are related concepts, they have some key differences:

Aspect	Anthropomorphism	Personification
Definition	Attribution of human characteristics, emotions, or behaviors to non-human entities	Giving human qualities or characteristics to non-human entities, usually inanimate objects or abstract concepts
Scope	A broader concept that encompasses personification and can be applied to a wide range of non-human entities, including animals, inanimate objects, and abstract concepts	Narrower concept that is primarily used as a figurative language technique in literature and other forms of creative expression
Purpose	Used to better understand, relate to, and communicate about non-human entities by treating them as if they possess human-like qualities, thoughts, or motivations	Used to create vivid, poetic, or metaphorical descriptions that help readers connect with the subject matter on a more emotional or imaginative level
Contexts	Found in various contexts, including literature, art, science, and everyday language	Primarily used as a literary device in creative writing and figurative language
Examples	“The loyal dog waited patiently for his owner to return, wondering if he had done something wrong to deserve being left alone.” (attributing human-like emotions and thoughts to a dog)	“The wind whispered through the trees, gently caressing the leaves as it passed.” (giving human qualities to the wind for poetic effect)

Anthropomorphism examples

In both literature and pop culture, anthropomorphism allows creators to explore human nature, social dynamics, and emotional experiences through the lens of non-human entities. 

Anthropomorphism in literature

Anthropomorphism is a common literary device in which authors give human characteristics, emotions, and behaviors to non-human entities, such as animals or inanimate objects. In literature, anthropomorphized characters often symbolize human experiences, allowing readers to explore complex ideas or themes through a more relatable lens. These characters may be used to critique social or political issues, convey moral messages, or create imaginative and engaging stories that appeal to readers of all ages.

Example

“Animal Farm” by George Orwell

• In this allegorical novel, farm animals are given human-like qualities and intelligence to represent different groups of people and political ideologies.
• The pigs, for example, represent the ruling class and are portrayed as cunning, manipulative, and power-hungry.

Anthropomorphism in pop culture

In popular culture, anthropomorphism is frequently used to create memorable and appealing characters that can capture the audience’s attention and affection. This can be seen in various forms of media, such as animated films, television shows, comic books, video games, and advertising. Anthropomorphized characters in pop culture often have exaggerated human-like personalities, emotions, and behaviors that make them more entertaining and relatable to viewers or consumers. These characters can serve as mascots for brands, help convey messages or themes in a more accessible way, or simply provide enjoyment and amusement to their audiences.

Example

Disney and Pixar animated films

• Many Disney and Pixar movies feature anthropomorphized animals or objects as main characters, such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and the toys in the “Toy Story” franchise.
• These characters are given human-like personalities, emotions, and the ability to talk and interact with each other in human-like ways.