Anthropomorphism is conditional and triggered, not automatic and promiscuous

Evidence

Some argue that seeing human-like beings everywhere is a “better-safe-then-sorry” hyperactive strategy, encouraging the belief that the world is populated with gods and spirits (see Guthrie, 1996; Barrett, 2000). This might describe animistic beliefs of many cultures to some extent. However, empirical work has painted a different picture regarding the origins of anthropomorphism. Rather than showing that this tendency is promiscuous, rapid, and automatic, studies have shown that people project human minds to nonhuman entities sometimes, under some conditions. They do so when an entity behaves unpredictably (think of your computer malfunctioning), when the idea of human is prominent (a robot with human-like features), and when people desire human connection (lonely people who anthropomorphize their pets); for reviews, see Epley et al., 2007; Waytz et al., 2010. — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 669

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the broader ABC (Big Gods / watchful agents) framework — if hyperactive agency detection doesn’t explain gods, it narrows what does produce Big God belief. — connects to: Anthropomorphism is a literary necessity, not a scientific error. — Janet Burroway; Elizabeth Stuckey-French; Ned Stuckey-French, Writing Fiction, Tenth Edition: A Guide…, 158; Analogical reasoning can operate as an intuitive particular-to-particular leap without a conscious rule — Frederick Schauer, Thinking Like a Lawyer, 183
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 669

Broader Connections

• Anthropomorphism is a literary necessity, not a scientific error. #qualifies (0.75) — Janet Burroway; Elizabeth Stuckey-French; Ned Stuckey-French, Writing Fiction, Tenth Edition, 158
• Analogical reasoning can operate as an intuitive particular-to-particular leap without a conscious rule #complicates (0.75) — Frederick Schauer, Thinking Like a Lawyer, 183