anthropomorphism
Let an agent explain anthropomorphism as a concept and its forms, relay research on why people anthropomorphise with attribution, distinguish it from related terms such as personification and animism, and discuss its role in religion, culture and technology neutrally.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain anthropomorphism as a concept and its forms, relay research on why people anthropomorphise with attribution, distinguish it from related terms such as personification and animism, and discuss its role in religion, culture and technology neutrally.
The attribution of human traits, emotions, intentions or form to non-human entities such as animals, gods, objects, natural forces and machines; it appears in myth, religion, literature and art, in everyday treatment of pets and possessions, and in reactions to computers and artificial intelligence, and is studied in psychology, anthropology and human-computer interaction.
What it is for: Not applicable; a cognitive and cultural tendency.
It can be explain the concept and forms; relay psychological research with attribution; distinguish from personification, animism and zoomorphism; discuss cases in religion, culture and technology.
Distinguishing features
Attribution of human qualities
Pervasive across cultures
Studied as cognition and as culture
Relevant to design of machines and interfaces
What it looks like
Not a visible object; seen in stories, images and behaviour toward non-humans.
How it is recognised
Human traits attributed to non-humans
In myth, art, everyday life and technology
Personification is a literary device; zoomorphism is the reverse
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
is a kind of - in psychology
is contrasted with - the reverse attribution
is studied by - and anthropology
In practice
Families and kinds
anthropomorphic gods and figures in religion and myth
anthropomorphic animals in fable, literature and animation
humanisation of pets
the ELIZA effect and anthropomorphism of computers and AI
anthropomorphism in science, as a caution in describing animal behaviour
Standards and regulation
No regulation; guidelines in animal behaviour science and in AI design ethics
Failure modes and hazards
Misreading animal behaviour
Overtrust of conversational machines
Treating religious anthropomorphism dismissively
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.anthropomorphism
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Concept What anthropomorphism is.
Definition.
Definition
Definition and forms.
Definition
Definition.
- What is anthropomorphism, and what forms does it take? definition
- Is the question about anthropomorphism, personification, animism or zoomorphism? boundary
Research
Why people anthropomorphise.
Research
Research.
- What does psychological research say about why people anthropomorphise, with findings attributed? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Culture Religion and art.
Attribution.
Religion
Religion and myth.
Religion
Religion.
- How do religions and myths use anthropomorphic figures, and how do traditions themselves discuss it, with attribution? provenance
- Is the presentation respectful and neutral? boundary
Art
Literature and animation.
Art
Art.
- How do fable, literature and animation use anthropomorphic animals? provenance
- Which entry fits a specific work or genre? action
Technology Machines and AI.
Design.
ELIZA effect
The ELIZA effect.
ELIZA
ELIZA.
- What is the ELIZA effect, and what does research say about anthropomorphising computers and AI? provenance
- Which entry fits human-computer interaction? action
Design
Design and ethics.
Design
Design.
- How do designers and ethicists treat anthropomorphic design of machines, with positions attributed? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral? boundary
Science Animals and science.
Study.
Animals
Animal behaviour.
Animals
Animals.
- How does animal behaviour science handle anthropomorphism, including debates about anthropodenial? provenance
- Which entry fits ethology? action
Pets
Pets.
Pets
Pets.
- What does research say about the humanisation of pets and its effects? provenance
- Which entry fits pet ownership? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should the ELIZA effect be a separate entry?
- How should research references be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases for pet humanisation and the ELIZA effect; should they be split off?