Q&A with Professor Virginia Hall

The following is part of an interview with Ohio University professor Virginia Hall. She teaches a society and animals course that explores the relationship between humans and animals.

So, in your own words, what is your definition of anthropomorphism?

Well anthropomorphism was developed as one way to characterize how people describe animals. If you are accused of 'anthropomorphizing,' this means you've given human traits or characteristics to an animal. For example, if I said 'Gosh my dog is so bored today' that would be an example of anthropomorphizing because being bored is a human emotion.

So you can describe any animal without anthropomorphizing?

It can be a fine line. But saying something like "my dog is hot" may not be anthropomorphizing because it's been proven that when dogs pant, it's a way for them to cool down. But again, people who take a very strict or narrow definition of it would still say that's anthropomorphizing. 

We seem to be talking about dogs a lot. Is that usually the animal that is anthropomorphized?

Not necessarily, anybody can describe any animal as having human emotions, but pets, especially dogs seem to be anthropomorphized the most.

Why is that?

Well, they are our campions. Dogs, or wolves, have been with us for hundreds of year. It's easy to describe an animal like a human if it's been a companion for that long.

What are other ways dogs can be anthropomorphized? Like dressing them up?

That's one example. Anthropomorphism goes beyond just describing a dog like a human. You can also treat it like a human by dressing it up in human outfits, feeding it people food, and overall treating it like a little furry person.

This seems like a new trend. I mean, I don't remember things like doggy daycares or crazy pet outfits until the last few years.

Well yes, doggy daycares are a new thing, but people, ladies especially, have been dressing dogs up way back in the 1800s. Their dogs had their own handkerchiefs and even little boots to wear.

What was the point of all that?

It was another status symbol of the aristocracy. It showed you had so much money to spare that you could even afford fashionable outfits for your dog.

The rest of professor Hall's comments about the consequences of anthropomorphism are in an earlier post. Check it out!

Photo Caption: Bo, the Obama's family dog is seen playing with a ball outside the white house. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)