2-192 - Cultural and religious differences in anthropomorphism of technology, nature, fictional characters, and supernatural agents

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Anthropomorphizing, or the association of human-like traits to non-human objects, agents, and events, plays a critical role in human interactions with technology, nature, and supernatural agents. This symposium brings together cutting-edge studies of cultural influences on the development of anthropomorphism, representing a global and multi-method approach to delineating dimensions of anthropomorphism the implications of cultural differences in anthropomorphizing. Paper 1 examines if American children from four religious backgrounds (Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Non-Affiliated) anthropomorphize God along three dimensions (mentalizing, embodiment, and causal agency). The findings indicate developmental and religious differences in anthropomorphizing along each dimension. Paper 2 examines anthropomorphizing of fictional and religious Hindu and Muslim agents in children in India. The findings again suggest differences in anthropomorphizing by domain (psychological versus biological versus physical) as well as by agent type, particularly focusing on coherence of cultural views of religious agents and cultural values associated with anthropomorphizing religious agents. Paper 3 diverges from research on supernatural and religious agents to cultural differences in anthropomorphism of technology and nature in Canadian and Chinese children and adults. The findings documented developmental differences in anthropomorphism of technology and inanimate nature of Asian-Canadian children, White-Canadian children, and Chinese children. In contrast, anthropomorphism of non-human animals was relatively consistent across the cultural groups. The discussion, led by a leading scholar of cultural influences on cognitive development, will engage the attendees in discussion of the interacting influences of basic cognitive development and different cultural processes in developmental shifts in anthropomorphism.

Sub Unit

• Cognitive Processes

Chair

• Rebekah Ann Richert, University of California, Riverside

Discussant

• Kathleen Helen Corriveau, Boston University

Individual Presentations

• Religious differences in anthropomorphism of God along varying dimensions - Presenting Author: Rebekah Ann Richert, University of California, Riverside

• When Allah Meets Ganesha: Developing Supernatural Concepts in a Religiously Diverse Society - Presenting Author: Mahesh Srinivasan, UC Berkeley; Non-Presenting Author: Andrew Shtulman, Occidental College; Non-Presenting Author: Ruthe Foushee, UC Berkeley; Non-Presenting Author: David Barner, University of California, San Diego; Non-Presenting Author: Yarrow Dunham, Yale

• The Role of Culture in Anthropomorphic Beliefs Among White-Canadian, Asian-Canadian, and Chinese Children and Adults - Presenting Author: Rachel Severson, University of Montana; Non-Presenting Author: Hui Li, Tianjin Normal University; Non-Presenting Author: Susan Birch, University of British Columbia; Non-Presenting Author: Angeline Lillard, University of Virginia