Why we anthropomorphize certain animals—but not others
Source: Shutterstock The last motivator for why see our pets as human is perhaps also the most obvious; because we want the company. Extensive research has shown the complex relationship between loneliness and anthropomorphism, revealing it to be bidirectional.
, using more human like terms to describe their pets and rating animals as more human like than their non-lonely counterparts , while people who are reminded of their attachments are less likely to subsequently see the non-human as human . Anthropomorphism can also be a fulfilling social experience. Across several studies Mourey, Olson, and Yoon had participants interact with anthropomorphic products following social exclusion. They found that these participants were less likely to want to engage with close others in the future, were less willing to engage in prosocial behaviour, and were less likely to exaggerate the number of social connections. These findings suggest that either a) anthropomorphism is fulfilling social needs and thus reducing additional social input, or b) is reducing social interest. Considering that loneliness for instance reflects a desire for companionship , and that lonely people tend to anthropomorphise more, I believe this experiment suggests that anthropomorphism can be a remedy for loneliness, allowing us to create companionship even when none may readily present.Ok, lonely people may be prone to anthropomorphising, but who else? Are some better at it, and more interested in it, than others? Well, probably yes. Integral to the concept of anthropomorphism is the concept of theory of mind, or being able to take the perspective of someone else . When we for instance see our dog whining at the door or our cat ready to pounce on a toy, we may recognize these behaviours in their repertoire, but we also likely engage in aimaginative exercise in which we think about what they might be thinking or feeling in that moment, and thus what they may need from us in return. We likely engage in this type of perspective taking all the time with our pets, considering what kind of toys they may like, what kind of places they may enjoy walking, what kind of games they may want to play, or even what kind of other animal they may get along with. All of these thoughts are indications that we are empathizing with our animals and trying to put ourselves in their position.Research suggests that people who do well on perspective-taking tasks are also good at anthropomorphizing; one of the oldest psychological tests, the social attribution task , measures both. In the task three shapes move in and out of a square in seemingly random order, until suddenly they don’t. After several seconds participants begin to notice meaning in the shape’s movements: the triangle taunts the square, who chases the triangle, who runs into the square…within a minute a complex story of human trials and tribulations. In this assessment those who see the most ‘human’ are those who are also the best able to see the shapes in terms of intentions, desires, beliefs and personality traits.Anthropomorphism, or seeing the human in the non-human, also carries consequences for the future of our world and the protection of those under our care. People who anthropomorphize tend to not just see animals as more human, but the whole natural world as deserving of fair treatment and having more human like tendencies, even thoughts and feelings .at us, perhaps we aren’t just reaching our full potential as crazy cat ladies, but also opening ourselves up to the humanity that exists all around us, if we use a bit of imagination. Coming up next, how animals can help the most vulnerable, and what can still be done to make animals accessible for all.Frontiers in Psychology, 7,Bartz, J. A., Tchalova, K., & Fenerci, C. . Reminders of social connection can attenuate anthropomorphism: A replication and extension of Epley, Akalis, Waytz, and Cacioppo .Epley, N., Waytz, A., & Cacioppo, J. T. . On seeing human: A three-factor theory of anthropomorphism.Epley, N., Waytz, A., Akalis, S., & Cacioppo, J. T. . When we need a human: Motivational determinants of anthropomorphism.The American Journal of Psychology, 57Johannesen, J. K., Lurie, J. B., Fiszdon, J. M., & Bell, M. D. . The social attribution task-multiple choice : A psychometric and equivalence study of an alternate form.Mourey, J. A., Olson, J. G., & Yoon, C. . Products as pals: Engaging with anthropomorphic products mitigates the effects of social exclusion.Paul, E. S., Moore, A., McAinsh, P., Symonds, E., McCune, S., & Bradshaw, J. W. . Sociality motivation and anthropomorphic thinking about pets.Tam, K.-P., Lee, S.-L., & Chao, M. M. . Saving Mr. Nature: Anthropomorphism enhances connectedness to and protectiveness toward nature., 514-521. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2013.02.001
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