In a study published in 2013 in the journal Biodiversity and Conservation, researchers found that that anthropomorphism does help people make sense of their interactions with the non-human world. And, when there is a sense of connection, there is often a stronger commitment to conservation.

Why do we humanise animals?

“Pet humanisation is a natural expression of the “pets as family” trend, whereby pet owners treat their pets like children and are highly receptive to products similar to the ones they use for themselves.” Certainly, a growing number of pet owners are treating their pets like members of the family.

Why do humans anthropomorphize animals?

Our love for talking animal cartoons has an evolutionary purpose: assigning human traits to non-humans kept our ancestors wary of potential dangers. Anthropomorphism activates parts of the brain involved in social behavior and drives our emotional connection with animals and inanimate objects.