Why is anthropomorphism problematic?
Although anthropomorphism helps us view other animals with compassion, it can also be problematic. By attributing human traits to nonhuman animals, our understanding of their needs and behaviors becomes biased. This can lead to several problems, including:
- Behavioral problems. People may project their own assumptions and conclude that animals act out of malice or spite when they are simply following their instincts.
- Welfare problems. Anthropomorphism can also lead people to overfeed their pets, provide them with unsuitable foods (e.g., vegan diets), or compromise their health by dressing them with clothes.
Anthropomorphism can create unrealistic expectations for animals and missed opportunities for understanding their actual behaviors.
