Graduation Year

2021

Graduation Month

December

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

School or Department

Psychology

Major

Psychology

Faculty Mentor Department

Psychology

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Rachel Severson

Faculty Reader(s)

Dr. Rachel Severson

Keywords

anthropomorphism, religion, mentalize

Subject Categories

Child Psychology | Developmental Psychology | Human Factors Psychology

Abstract

Anthropomorphism, or the attribution of human characteristics and behaviors to non- human entities, is not a new concept in psychology research, but is becoming increasingly more popular. This is likely to do with the emergence of artificial intelligence and other technologies in our society. Anthropomorphism is something that is encountered on a regular basis, and much research has been done looking at various aspects of this concept. Current research has investigated parental language and its relation to children’s anthropomorphism, anthropomorphism in relation to culture, how it intersects with development, among others. However, there are gaps in the research of anthropomorphism, especially regarding child/parent relationships and mentalization behavior. Due to the surge in research in this area, and the gaps in surrounding literature, I sought to understand the potential relation between parent and child anthropomorphism. I looked to grasp the individual differences in degree of anthropomorphism in children related to parental anthropomorphic tendency. Research in this realm holds many implications, especially in parenting and the impact that parents may have on their children’s inclinations to anthropomorphize. I hypothesize that there is a strong correlation between parent and child anthropomorphic beliefs, that likely increases with age. Secondly, I believe that there is a strong positive association between religious belief and anthropomorphic tendency.

Honors College Research Project

1

GLI Capstone Project

no

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© Copyright 2021 Sarah R. Carbis