spatialanimacy
Spatial animacy is a concept in linguistics and cognitive science that describes the tendency to attribute life-like qualities or agency to inanimate objects based on their spatial arrangement and movement. It suggests that humans are predisposed to perceive objects that exhibit certain spatial characteristics as if they were animate beings. These characteristics can include directional movement, perceived intention in motion, or the presence of features that resemble animate forms.
For instance, when an object moves purposefully towards another object, or when a collection of objects clusters
Research into spatial animacy often uses experimental paradigms where participants observe abstract shapes or simple animations.