Anthropomorphism

Guthrie, 1997
The transmission of human characteristics to non-human things and events.

Guthrie, S.E., "Anthropomorphism: a definition and a theory", in Mitchell, R.W., Thompson, N.S., Miles, H.L. (Eds), Anthropomorphism, Anecdotes, and Animals, State University of New York Press, Albany, NY, pp.50-8. 1997:51

Daston and Mitman, 2005
The belief that animals are essentially like humans, and it is usually applied as a term of reproach, both intellectual and moral.

Daston, L., & Mitman, G. Introduction. In L. Daston & G. Mitman (Eds.), Thinking with animals: New perspectives on anthropomorphism. New York City: Columbia University Press. 2005:2

Epley, Waytz, and Cacioppo, 2007
The tendency to imbue the real or imagined behavior of nonhuman agents with humanlike characteristics, motivations, intentions, or emotions.

Epley, N.,Waytz, A., & Cacioppo, J. T. 'n seeing human: A three-factor theory of anthropomorphism'. Psychological Review, 114, 2007:864.