On Seeing Human: A Three-Factor Theory of Anthropomorphism

Abstract

Proposes a comprehensive theory explaining when and why people anthropomorphize. Three factors drive the tendency: elicited agent knowledge (using human schemas as defaults), effectance motivation (desire to understand and predict), and sociality motivation (need for social connection).

Key Findings

• Loneliness increases anthropomorphism of non-human agents
• Unpredictability of an agent increases anthropomorphic attribution
• Individual differences in anthropomorphism are stable and measurable

Source