anthropomorphise
AN-thruh-por-fuh-size
Definition
To attribute human emotions, intentions, or characteristics to non-human things, such as animals, objects, or machines.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'anthrōpos' (human) and 'morphē' (form), the term was coined in the 18th century to describe the tendency to ascribe human qualities to non-human entities.
In the news
The article uses the term to explain the tendency of people to treat animals like humans, noting that while it is a common cognitive shortcut, it can sometimes be driven by a social need for connection.
Psychology says people who accumulate five or six nicknames for a single pet aren't eccentric or overly attached — they're using the same kind of playful private language humans often develop in their closest emotional relationships
Read the full article ↗Silicon Canals