Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism is giving human traits, feelings or intentions to animals, objects or forces of nature. It helps us relate to and predict things, but it can mislead us about how they really work.
In everyday life
A dog owner is sure the dog looks guilty because it knows it did wrong, when the dog may simply be reacting to the owner's angry tone.
You apologize to your robot vacuum after bumping it with your foot, and when it rolls away you feel it is sulking.
Why your mind does this
Our ancestors survived by spotting patterns fast: rustling grass might mean a predator, and dark clouds meant rain. Filling gaps with a plausible story lets us act on thin information instead of freezing. A brain that sometimes sees a pattern that isn't there loses less than one that misses a real threat.
Its family, in 30 seconds: Stories & patterns
How to spot it
Notice when you describe a machine, animal or storm as wanting, feeling or planning something.
How to counter it
Restate the situation in plain mechanical terms, like 'the software crashed because memory ran out', and see if it still feels personal.
Same family: Stories & patterns
SourcesEpley et al. (2007)·Wikipedia