anthropomorphisms
Giving objects personalities
Anthropomorphisms are instances of attributing human characteristics to nonhuman things—animals, gods, objects, or abstract concepts.
A cartoon mouse that talks and wears clothes is an anthropomorphism.
So is describing nature as "cruel" or saying a computer "wants" to crash.
The singular anthropomorphism names either the practice or a specific instance: The text is full of anthropomorphisms.
Attributing humanity to non-humans
- allegorySymbolic tale with deeper meaning
- fableMoral tale with animals
- AesopAncient Greek fable writer
- metaphorImplied identity comparison
characterization · narrative · storytelling · parable · talking animals · fairy tale · mythology · folklore
Worshipped supernatural being
- goddessFemale sacred being
- incarnationQuality given bodily presence
- avatarDigital user representation
- ZeusGreek sky god
Shiva · Ganesh · Anubis · Thor · creation myth · ancestral spirit · kami · animism
Digital voice helper
- AlexaVirtual home assistant
- chatbotConversational AI program
- humanoidBeing with body like ours
- androidMachine resembling a person
uncanny valley · machine learning · sentient AI · HAL 9000 · R2-D2 · WALL-E · Terminator · user interface
Visible emotional displays
- body languageUnspoken physical expression
- jealousyResentful desire for another's advantages
- mourningPeriod following loss
- animal intelligenceMental capacity in beasts
personality · temperament · sentience · consciousness · empathy · communication · social behavior · pack dynamics
- Tony the TigerAnimated cereal brand ambassador
- Michelin ManTire brand's mascot
- Geico GeckoGreen spokesman reptile
- M&M charactersAnthropomorphic chocolate candy mascots
Pillsbury Doughboy · advertising · marketing · brand identity · corporate mascot · logo design · consumer appeal · merchandising
personification
Attributing humanity to non-humans
- allegorySymbolic tale with deeper meaning
- fableMoral tale with animals
- AesopAncient Greek fable writer
metaphor · characterization · narrative · storytelling · parable · talking animals · fairy tale · mythology · folklore · Beatrix Potter
deity
Worshipped supernatural being
- goddessFemale sacred being
- incarnationQuality given bodily presence
- avatarDigital user representation
Zeus · Shiva · Ganesh · Anubis · Thor · creation myth · ancestral spirit · kami · animism · pantheism
Siri
Digital voice helper
android · uncanny valley · machine learning · sentient AI · HAL 9000 · R2-D2 · WALL-E · Terminator · user interface · virtual assistant
facial expressions
Visible emotional displays
- body languageUnspoken physical expression
- jealousyResentful desire for another's advantages
- mourningPeriod following loss
animal intelligence · personality · temperament · sentience · consciousness · empathy · communication · social behavior · pack dynamics
brand mascot
- Tony the TigerAnimated cereal brand ambassador
- Michelin ManTire brand's mascot
- Geico GeckoGreen spokesman reptile
M&M characters · Pillsbury Doughboy · advertising · marketing · brand identity · corporate mascot · logo design · consumer appeal · merchandising · trademark
anthropomorphismsdehumanization
Denying personhood to others
objectification · animalization · depersonalization · mechanization · literalism