What is anthropomorphism?

Anthropomorphism refers to the practice of attributing human-like qualities, emotions, and characteristics to animals. This concept involves interpreting animal behavior and experiences through a human lens, often leading to assumptions about their feelings, motivations, or thoughts based on human behavior. An example could be describing a dog as being "happy" or "jealous" when in reality, their emotional experiences may differ from human emotions. This can influence how humans relate to animals and affect both perceptions and actions towards them, sometimes leading to misinterpretations of their true behaviors and needs. In contrast, training animals through reinforcement, assessing behavior through observation, or understanding instincts are grounded in behavioral science and do not involve imparting human traits to animals.