TY - JOUR
T1 - When we need a human
T2 - Motivational determinants of anthropomorphism
AU - Epley, Nicholas
AU - Waytz, Adam
AU - Akalis, Scott
AU - Cacioppo, John T.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - We propose that the tendency to anthropomorphize nonhuman agents is determined primarily by three factors (Epley, Waytz, & Cacioppo, 2007), two of which we test here: sociality motivation and effectance motivation. This theory makes unique predictions about dispositional, situational, cultural, and developmental variability in anthropomorphism, and we test two predictions about dispositional and situational influences stemming from both of these motivations. In particular, we test whether those who are dispositionally lonely (sociality motivation) are more likely to anthropomorphize well-known pets (Study 1), and whether those who have a stable need for control (effectance motivation) are more likely to anthropomorphize apparently unpredictable animals (Study 2). Both studies are consistent with our predictions. We suggest that this theory of anthropomorphism can help to explain when people are likely to attribute humanlike traits to nonhuman agents, and provides insight into the inverse process of dehumanization in which people fail to attribute human characteristics to other humans.
AB - We propose that the tendency to anthropomorphize nonhuman agents is determined primarily by three factors (Epley, Waytz, & Cacioppo, 2007), two of which we test here: sociality motivation and effectance motivation. This theory makes unique predictions about dispositional, situational, cultural, and developmental variability in anthropomorphism, and we test two predictions about dispositional and situational influences stemming from both of these motivations. In particular, we test whether those who are dispositionally lonely (sociality motivation) are more likely to anthropomorphize well-known pets (Study 1), and whether those who have a stable need for control (effectance motivation) are more likely to anthropomorphize apparently unpredictable animals (Study 2). Both studies are consistent with our predictions. We suggest that this theory of anthropomorphism can help to explain when people are likely to attribute humanlike traits to nonhuman agents, and provides insight into the inverse process of dehumanization in which people fail to attribute human characteristics to other humans.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=61649124055&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=61649124055&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1521/soco.2008.26.2.143
DO - 10.1521/soco.2008.26.2.143
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:61649124055
SN - 0278-016X
VL - 26
SP - 143
EP - 155
JO - Social Cognition
JF - Social Cognition
IS - 2
ER -