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Category - Communications

What is the term for applying a human characteristic or voice to an animal, object, or theoretical construct?
  1. Communicative displacement
  2. Message deflection
  3. Fictionalization
  4. Anthropomorphism
Explanation
Answer: D - Anthropomorphism is the application of a human characteristic, voice, or thought to a non-human entity. It is a common mistake in communication, particularly debate. For example, an animal rights activist may argue against puppy mills by saying that it saddens adult female dogs to have so many puppies from which they are quickly separated because it breaks up their family. The human notions of family and maternal attachment do not apply to dogs, and the argument would weaken the activist's fundamental point which is factually correct, that puppy mills are detrimental to the adult female dogs forced to breed on demand.
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