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Automatic effects of anthropomorphized objects on behavior

Publication ,  Journal Article
Chartrand, TL; Fitzsimons, GM; Fitzsimons, GJ
Published in: Social Cognition
December 1, 2008

Behavior can be automatically affected by the perception of other people, be they significant others or members of social groups (e.g., Bargh, Chen, & Burrows, 1996; Chartrand & Bargh, 1999; Fitzsimons & Bargh, 2003). The current research uses these findings as a basis for investigation of the psychological construct of anthropomorphism. Two studies explore whether subtle exposure to anthropomorphized objects such as domestic animals (e.g., dogs and cats) can activate associated concepts and automatically influence behavior. The findings suggest that even incidental exposure to animals associated with human characteristics influences behavior in an automatic fashion, such that people "match" the personality attributed to the nonhuman entity. This provides initial evidence for the role of anthropomorphism in guiding social behavior.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Social Cognition

DOI

ISSN

0278-016X

Publication Date

December 1, 2008

Volume

26

Issue

2

Start / End Page

198 / 209

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • Political Science & Public Administration
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 4408 Political science
  • 2202 History and Philosophy of Specific Fields
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1606 Political Science
 

Citation

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Chartrand, T. L., Fitzsimons, G. M., & Fitzsimons, G. J. (2008). Automatic effects of anthropomorphized objects on behavior. Social Cognition, 26(2), 198–209. https://doi.org/10.1521/soco.2008.26.2.198
Chartrand, T. L., G. M. Fitzsimons, and G. J. Fitzsimons. “Automatic effects of anthropomorphized objects on behavior.” Social Cognition 26, no. 2 (December 1, 2008): 198–209. https://doi.org/10.1521/soco.2008.26.2.198.
Chartrand TL, Fitzsimons GM, Fitzsimons GJ. Automatic effects of anthropomorphized objects on behavior. Social Cognition. 2008 Dec 1;26(2):198–209.
Chartrand, T. L., et al. “Automatic effects of anthropomorphized objects on behavior.” Social Cognition, vol. 26, no. 2, Dec. 2008, pp. 198–209. Scopus, doi:10.1521/soco.2008.26.2.198.
Chartrand TL, Fitzsimons GM, Fitzsimons GJ. Automatic effects of anthropomorphized objects on behavior. Social Cognition. 2008 Dec 1;26(2):198–209.
Journal cover image

Published In

Social Cognition

DOI

ISSN

0278-016X

Publication Date

December 1, 2008

Volume

26

Issue

2

Start / End Page

198 / 209

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • Political Science & Public Administration
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 4408 Political science
  • 2202 History and Philosophy of Specific Fields
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1606 Political Science