anthropomorphizes

Anthropomorphizes is the third-person singular present tense of the verb anthropomorphize and refers to the act of attributing human characteristics to non-human beings or objects, including emotions, intentions, behaviors, or physical traits.

The term derives from Greek roots anthropos meaning "human" and morphe meaning "form," reflecting the idea of giving a human-like form or attributes to something not human.

In culture and media, anthropomorphism is widespread. It appears in fables, children’s literature, and animated films where animals or objects speak, think, and act like people. It also appears in religious or mythological contexts, where deities or spirits are depicted with human traits. In design and branding, mascots and consumer products are sometimes anthropomorphized to evoke familiarity or trust.

In psychology and cognitive science, anthropomorphizing a non-human entity is viewed as a natural cognitive bias rooted in social cognition. People may ascribe agency, intention, or emotion to animals, machines, or natural phenomena to better predict behavior or interact with them. While it can facilitate understanding and engagement, it can also lead to misattribution or overgeneralization.

Distinctions are often made between anthropomorphism and personification. Personification is a literary device that attributes human qualities to non-human things as a figure of speech, whereas anthropomorphism more broadly endows the entity with human form or full human-like agency, sometimes extending beyond symbolic use to imagined reality.

Examples range from talking animal characters in entertainment to robots designed with human-like expressions, illustrating both the appeal and potential limits of anthropomorphizing non-human entities.