Universally, anthropomorphism is known as giving human characteristics to a non-human entity. According to the author of this article, anthropomorphism can be traced back 30,000 years. Anthropomorphism today is seen in almost every household in this country and the trend is growing.
We need to step back and understand why we are projecting human traits on our pets and other animals and the impact.”
Source: Protect the Harvest. Link. When anthropomorphism is directed towards animals, it gives humans an unrealistic model for those animals to live up to. Just as we should not expect a human child to act like a dog, we should not expect a dog to act like a human child, as they are not equivalent to the other. Expecting a pet, or any other animal to live up to the standards of human traits can cause a wide array of problems, which can include:
- Behavioral problems
- Health problems
- Vet visit issues
- Pet owner issues
- Legal challenges
INSIGHTS: This information is worth considering as strategies are formed, communications penned, conversational language used and imagery created.