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Anthropomorphism facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
The North Wind and the Sun - Wind - Project Gutenberg etext 19994
In this illustration by Milo Winter of Aesop's fable, The North Wind and the Sun, a personified North Wind tries to strip the cloak off of a traveler.
Lion man photo
A 40,000 year-old carving of a lion with human traits

Anthropomorphism is suggesting that non-human things have human traits, emotions, and intentions. It is common for people to do this.

Anthropomorphism is often used in stories and art. The story of the "Three Little Pigs" has a wolf and pigs who talk and act like humans. Mickey Mouse also talks and acts like a human. These are examples of a type of anthropomorphism called "furry".

The novel The Call of the Wild also uses anthropomorphism. The main character is a dog named Buck. Many other characters are dogs and wolves. In the story, the animals think and act more like humans than real dogs do.

Reasons for anthropomorphism

People can explain why they do things. People are not as good at knowing why non-human things do things. This can lead to people assuming non-human things will act or think like humans.

Knowledge about humans is got early in life. It is more detailed than knowledge about non-human entities, and is better remembered.

Related pages

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Antropomorfismo para niños

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