Anthropomorphism as a conservation tool

Outline of a fear-avoidance model of exaggerated pain perception--I.

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First human-caused extinction of a cetacean species?

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Human Mate Selection

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The New Anthropomorphism

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Convergence of Complex Cognitive Abilities in Cetaceans and Primates

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Causal Reasoning in Rats

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SPECIESISM AND MORAL STATUS

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Attribution of Cognitive States to Animals: Anthropomorphism in Comparative Perspective

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Animal Emotions: Exploring Passionate Natures

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Conservation and the Myth of Consensus

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Pain experience in hermit crabs?

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What are Animals? Why Anthropomorphism is Still Not a Scientific Approach to Behavior

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Free-choice learning and the environment

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Fostering empathy with wildlife: factors affecting free-choice learning for conservation concern and behavior

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Plant blindness and the implications for plant conservation

Balding, M., & Williams, K. J. H. (2016) · Conservation Biology · doi:10.1111/cobi.12738 · Cited by 385 · see citing works

A global parasite conservation plan

Carlson, C. J., Hopkins, S. R., Bell, K. C., Doña, J., Godfrey, S. S., Kwak, M. L., Lafferty, K. D., Moir, M. L., Speer, K. A., Strona, G., et al. (2020) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108596 · Cited by 222 · see citing works

Drivers of taxonomic bias in conservation research: a global analysis of terrestrial mammals

dos Santos, J. W., Correia, R. A., Malhado, A. C. M., Campos‐Silva, J. V., TELES, D. O., Jepson, P. R., & Ladle, R. J. (2020) · Animal Conservation · doi:10.1111/acv.12586 · Cited by 149 · see citing works

Is that coffee mug smiling at me? How anthropomorphism impacts the effectiveness of desirability vs. feasibility appeals in sustainability advertising

Han, N. R., Baek, T. H., Yoon, S., & Kim, Y. (2019) · Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services · doi:10.1016/j.jretconser.2019.06.020 · Cited by 145 · see citing works

Anthropomorphized species as tools for conservation: utility beyond prosocial, intelligent and suffering species

Root‐Bernstein, M., Douglas, L. R., Smith, A. M., & Veríssimo, D. (2013) · Biodiversity and Conservation · doi:10.1007/s10531-013-0494-4 · Cited by 127 · see citing works

Cute, Creepy, or Crispy—How Values, Attitudes, and Norms Shape Human Behavior Toward Bats

Kingston, T. (2015) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-25220-9_18 · Cited by 107 · see citing works

The Complexity of the Human–Animal Bond: Empathy, Attachment and Anthropomorphism in Human–Animal Relationships and Animal Hoarding

Prato‐Previde, E., Ricci, E. B., & Colombo, E. S. (2022) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani12202835 · Cited by 121 · see citing works

Anthropomorphism and Its Adverse Effects on the Distress and Welfare of Companion Animals

Mota-Rojas, D., Mariti, C., Zdeinert, A., Riggio, G., Mora-Medina, P., del Mar Reyes, A., Gazzano, A., Domínguez-Oliva, A., Lezama-García, K., José-Pérez, N., et al. (2021) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani11113263 · Cited by 95 · see citing works

Victim or beggar? Anthropomorphic messengers and the savior effect in consumer sustainability behavior

Ketron, S. C., & Naletelich, K. (2018) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.11.004 · Cited by 81 · see citing works

Use of fauna in the traditional medicine of native Toba (qom) from the Argentine Gran Chaco region: an ethnozoological and conservationist approach

Martínez, G. J. (2013) · Ethnobiology and Conservation · doi:10.15451/ec2013-8-2.2-1-43 · Cited by 71 · see citing works

The association between anthropomorphism of nature and pro-environmental variables: A systematic review

Williams, M. O., Whitmarsh, L. E., & Chríost, D. M. G. (2021) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109022 · Cited by 65 · see citing works

Reciprocal relationships with trees: rekindling Indigenous wellbeing and identity through the Yuin ontology of oneness

Arnold, C., Atchison, J. M., & McKnight, A. (2021) · Australian Geographer · doi:10.1080/00049182.2021.1910111 · Cited by 63 · see citing works

The influence of message framing on public beliefs and behaviors related to species reintroduction

Niemiec, R., Sekar, S., Gonzalez, M. N., & Mertens, A. (2020) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108522 · Cited by 35 · see citing works

The urban Smooth‐coated otters Lutrogale perspicillata of Singapore: a review of the reasons for success

Khoo, M. D. Y., & Lee, B. P. Y. ‐. (2020) · International Zoo Yearbook · doi:10.1111/izy.12262 · Cited by 36 · see citing works

Using Animal Portraiture to Activate Emotional Affect

Whitley, C. T., Kalof, L., & Flach, T. (2020) · Environment and Behavior · doi:10.1177/0013916520928429 · Cited by 35 · see citing works

Anthropomorphized Nonhuman Animals in Mass Media and Their Influence on Human Attitudes Toward Wildlife

Grasso, C., Lenzi, C., Speiran, S. I. M., & Pirrone, F. (2020) · Society and Animals · doi:10.1163/15685306-bja10021 · Cited by 31 · see citing works

Influence of self‐assessment and conditional metaconceptual knowledge on students' self‐regulation of intuitive and scientific conceptions of evolution

Hartelt, T., & Martens, H. (2024) · Journal of Research in Science Teaching · doi:10.1002/tea.21938 · Cited by 29 · see citing works

Toward Empathic Agonism: Conflicting Vulnerabilities in Urban Wetland Governance

Horowitz, L. S. (2013) · Environment and Planning A Economy and Space · doi:10.1068/a45591 · Cited by 25 · see citing works

FoodChattAR: Exploring the Design Space of Edible Virtual Agents for Human-Food Interaction

Weber, P. P., Krings, K., Nießner, J., Brodesser, S., & Ludwig, T. G. (2021) · Designing Interactive Systems Conference · doi:10.1145/3461778.3461998 · Cited by 24 · see citing works

Animal biodiversity and specificity in children’s picture books

Hooykaas, M. J. D., Holierhoek, M. G., Westerveld, J. S., Schilthuizen, M., & Smeets, I. (2022) · Public Understanding of Science · doi:10.1177/09636625221089811 · Cited by 24 · see citing works

Anthropomorphic Factors Influencing Spanish Conservation Policies of Vertebrates

Martín‐Forés, I., Martín‐López, B., & Montes, C. (2013) · International Journal of Biodiversity · doi:10.1155/2013/142670 · Cited by 23 · see citing works

Toward moral pathways to motivate wildlife conservation

Ghasemi, B., & Kyle, G. T. (2021) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109170 · Cited by 22 · see citing works

Compassionate Conservation: Exploring the Lives of African Wild Dogs (Lycaon pictus) in Botswana

Fraser-Celin, V.-L., & Hovorka, A. J. (2019) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani9010016 · Cited by 20 · see citing works

Selection and Implementation of a Flagship Fleet in a Locally Undervalued Region of High Endemicity

Root‐Bernstein, M., & Armestó, J. J. (2013) · AMBIO · doi:10.1007/s13280-013-0385-7 · Cited by 20 · see citing works

Changing trends: Beliefs and attitudes toward sharks and implications for conservation

das Neves, J. P. C., McGinnis, T., & Giger, J. (2022) · Ethnobiology and Conservation · doi:10.15451/ec2022-05-11.11-1-11 · Cited by 18 · see citing works

Animals Like Us: Leveraging the Negativity Bias in Anthropomorphism to Reduce Beef Consumption

Choueiki, Z., Geuens, M., & Vermeir, I. (2021) · Foods · doi:10.3390/foods10092147 · Cited by 17 · see citing works

Does Beauty Matter? The Effect of Perceived Attractiveness on Children’s Moral Judgments of Harmful Actions against Animals

Collado, S., Rodríguez‐Rey, R., & Sorrel, M. Á. (2021) · Environment and Behavior · doi:10.1177/00139165211014626 · Cited by 17 · see citing works

Best Practices for Building Empathy Through Live Animal Encounters

Akerman, S. (2019) · Journal of Museum Education · doi:10.1080/10598650.2018.1496388 · Cited by 15 · see citing works

Rethinking Sentience: Invertebrates as Worthy of Moral Consideration

Valente, C. D. S. (2024) · Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics · doi:10.1007/s10806-024-09940-2 · Cited by 12 · see citing works

What’s the draw?: illustrating the impacts of cartoons versus photographs on attitudes and behavioral intentions for wildlife conservation

Osinski, B. L., Getson, J. M., Bentlage, B., Avery, G. H., Glas, Z. E., Esman, L. A., Williams, R. N., & Prokopy, L. S. (2019) · Human Dimensions of Wildlife · doi:10.1080/10871209.2019.1587649 · Cited by 12 · see citing works

WASP: the World Archives of Species Perception

Nguyen, T., Malina, R. M., Mokas, I., Papakonstantinou, A., Polyzos, O., & Vanhove, M. P. M. (2023) · Database · doi:10.1093/database/baad003 · Cited by 11 · see citing works

Do elephants really never forget? What we know about elephant memory and a call for further investigation

Hope, S. F., Willgohs, K. R., Dittakul, S., & Plotnik, J. M. (2025) · Learning & Behavior · doi:10.3758/s13420-024-00655-y · Cited by 8 · see citing works

Becoming Buttercups: Fostering Eco-Empathy Through Metaphorical Creative Writing

Refaie, E. E., & Thatcher, C. (2025) · Metaphor and Symbol · doi:10.1080/10926488.2024.2431075 · Cited by 8 · see citing works

Getting close to a national icon: an examination of the involvement of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) in Australian tourism

Markwell, K. (2020) · Tourism Recreation Research · doi:10.1080/02508281.2020.1815411 · Cited by 8 · see citing works

Animal welfare and ethics in food and agriculture

Blaxter, T., Åsbjer, E., & Fraanje, W. (2024) · University of Oxford · doi:10.56661/f2d8f4c7 · Cited by 7 · see citing works

Plantness, Animalness, and Humanness: plant placement within animacy and adjacent scales

Lubbe, F. C., & Alfonzo, K. G. C. (2024) · Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour · doi:10.1111/jtsb.12410 · Cited by 6 · see citing works

Young Children’s Inductive Inferences Within Animals Are Affected by Whether Animals Are Presented Anthropomorphically in Films

Tarłowski, A., & Rybska, E. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.634809 · Cited by 6 · see citing works

Using photo editing to understand the impact of species aesthetics on support for conservation

Shaw, M. N., Dunn, M. E., Crowley, S. L., Owen, N., & Veríssimo, D. (2024) · People and Nature · doi:10.1002/pan3.10602 · Cited by 6 · see citing works

Maximum longevity and juvenile mortality in zoo‐housed mangabeys

de Visser, M. C., Prins, E. F., Bosse, M., Crooijmans, R. P. M. A., & ter Meulen, T. (2022) · Zoo Biology · doi:10.1002/zoo.21690 · Cited by 6 · see citing works

Communication from the Zoo: Reports from Zoological Facilities of the Impact of COVID-19 Closures on Animals

Hunton, V., Rendle, J., Carter, A. J., & Williams, E. (2022) · Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens · doi:10.3390/jzbg3020022 · Cited by 6 · see citing works

Nature–society relations in disaster governance frameworks

Meriläinen, E. (2025) · Disasters · doi:10.1111/disa.12678 · Cited by 5 · see citing works

Building bridges across species: empathy, prosociality, and ecosocial education

Keto, S. (2025) · Environmental Education Research · doi:10.1080/13504622.2025.2538771 · Cited by 5 · see citing works

An etiological examination of behavioral intentions to support shark and stingray conservancy: the effects of beliefs in elasmobranchs’ cognitive and affective capacities

Hancock, G. M., Dudley, K. D., Long, D., & Lowe, C. G. (2023) · Frontiers in Marine Science · doi:10.3389/fmars.2023.1178539 · Cited by 5 · see citing works

Buzzing about bees: exploring action-based storytelling as a tool for children’s environmental engagement and agency

Portus, R., Williams, S., Peklanska, E., Portus, R., & Walmsley, T. (2025) · Environmental Education Research · doi:10.1080/13504622.2025.2478430 · Cited by 6 · see citing works

Ethical considerations in natural history film production and the need for industry-wide best practice

Williamson, M. J., Curnick, D. J., Jacoby, D. M. P., Durant, S. M., & O’Neill, H. M. K. (2021) · Global Ecology and Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01981 · Cited by 5 · see citing works

Conservation needs and opportunities drive LIFE funding allocation for European birds

Correia, R. A., Brommer, J. E., Haukka, A., Jonas, L., Lehikoinen, A. S., Mammola, S., & Santangeli, A. (2024) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110833 · Cited by 5 · see citing works

Should individual animals be given names in wildlife reintroductions?

Auster, R., Puttock, A. K., Bradbury, G., & Brazier, R. (2023) · People and Nature · doi:10.1002/pan3.10503 · Cited by 4 · see citing works

“Hi, I’m Terri Towel. Please Reuse Me.” Can Anthropomorphizing Towels Prompt Tourists to Reuse Them?

Greene, D., Zinn, A. K., Demeter, C., & Dolničar, S. (2025) · Journal of Travel Research · doi:10.1177/00472875251349233 · Cited by 4 · see citing works

“I’ve Had Dolphins…Looking for Abalone for Me”: Oral History and the Subjectivities of Marine Engagement

Gaynor, A., & McCann, J. (2017) · The Oral History Review · doi:10.1093/ohr/ohx023 · Cited by 4 · see citing works

A Salamander Tale: Effective Exhibits and Attitude Change

Rollins, J., & Watson, S. L. (2017) · Journal of Extension · doi:10.34068/joe.55.03.15 · Cited by 4 · see citing works

Advocating for mother nature: the roles of anthropomorphism, nature-evoked emotions and trust

Syahrivar, J., Manurung, S. P., Genoveva, G., Sonny, S., Hakim, D. L., & Wei, Y. (2023) · International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing · doi:10.1007/s12208-023-00390-6 · Cited by 3 · see citing works

The Wildcard XAI: from a Necessity, to a Resource, to a Dangerous Decoy

Carli, R., & Calvaresi, D. (2024) · Lecture notes in computer science · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-70074-3_13 · Cited by 3 · see citing works

Effects of primatological training on anthropomorphic valuations of emotions

Mercadillo, R. E., Alcauter, S., & Barrios, F. A. (2018) · IBRO Reports · doi:10.1016/j.ibror.2018.09.001 · Cited by 3 · see citing works

Animals in Fashion: Portrayal of Animal Biodiversity on Children’s Clothing

Hooykaas, M. J. D., Aalders, A. K., Schilthuizen, M., & Smeets, I. (2022) · Society and Animals · doi:10.1163/15685306-bja10109 · Cited by 3 · see citing works

Creating a Circular Economy by Anthropomorphic Product Design

Ishigaki, R., Shreeves, M., & Madhabika, L. N. (2025) · IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review · doi:10.1177/22779752251346636 · Cited by 2 · see citing works

No Uglies: Rejection and Utopia in "Animal Crossing: New Horizons"

Calloway, A. (2024) · Replay The Polish Journal of Game Studies · doi:10.18778/2391-8551.11.05 · Cited by 2 · see citing works

The Impacts of Anthropomorphic Plastic Bottle Designs on Consumers’ Recycling Intention: The Mediating Effects of Anticipatory Guilt, Empathy, and Identity-Connection

Ishigaki, R., Shreeves, M., & Madhabika, L. N. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-97-3512-9_4 · Cited by 2 · see citing works

"The Earth is Alive": Attributing Agency to the Earth Causes Moral Concern for the Environment and Biocentric Attitudes

Pizza, L., & Kelemen, D. (2025) · Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1111/cogs.70052 · Cited by 3 · see citing works

“Hi, I’m Terri Towel. Please reuse me” Can anthropomorphising towels prompt tourists to reuse them?Preprint

Greene, D., Zinn, A. K., Demeter, C., & Dolničar, S. (2024) · doi:10.31235/osf.io/muwy7 · Cited by 2 · see citing works

Nature at the Nexus of the Sacred and the Everyday: Ecological Knowledge in Contemporary American Druidry

Kirner, K. D. (2024) · Palgrave studies in new religions and alternative spiritualities. · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-63099-6_7 · Cited by 1 · see citing works

Interviewing Nature: The Dangers and Delights of the Pathetic Fallacy and Anthropomorphism in Nature Writing and Environmental Journalism

Swanberg, S. E. (2024) · Palgrave studies in literary journalism · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-56634-9_14 · Cited by 1 · see citing works

The acoustic features of sincere joyful, sad, and fearful human non-verbal vocalizations and its effect on the emotional valence of cat’s meowing

Portnova, G. V., Liaukovich, K. M., & Sharaev, M. (2025) · Cognitive Neurodynamics · doi:10.1007/s11571-025-10370-7 · Cited by 1 · see citing works

Nehru’s Elephant Envoys: Animal Modernity, Orientalist Gaze and India’s Soft Power

Ghosh, A. (2022) · Studies in Indian Politics · doi:10.1177/23210230221135839 · Cited by 1 · see citing works

Ecology, ethology, and evolution in the Anthropocene

Lima, M. S., Lubbe, F., dos Santos, S. H. D., Saruhashi, S., Maglov, J., Nascimento, J. E. M. D., & Coulson, S. Z. (2024) · Biology Open · doi:10.1242/bio.060175 · Cited by 1 · see citing works

Learning Activities for Environmental Education for Sustainable Development

Fucsko, L. A., & Sax, B. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-11352-0_216 · Cited by 1 · see citing works

Aspectos da relação pessoa-animal na conservação da fauna silvestre amazônica em risco de extinção

Mateus, W. D. D., & Higuchi, M. I. G. (2019) · Ambiente & Educação · doi:10.14295/ambeduc.v24i1.8299

Learning Activities for Environmental Education for Sustainable Development

Fucsko, L. A., & Sax, B. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-63951-2_216-1

Using High-Definition Underwater Videography and Social Psychology to Increase Public Interest in Rare Fishes

Ulrich, T. (2018) · UA Campus Repository (The University of Arizona)

Saving Little Swimmer, Jumper, and Digger: Three Survey Experiments Testing Kinship Appeals in Conservation Marketing

Morris, D. S. M., & Qirko, H. (2025) · Natural resource management and policy · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-90889-7_6

Seeing wild animals just like us: media viewing, anthropomorphism, and support for wildlife protections

Hanley, D., & Brewer, P. R. (2025) · Human Dimensions of Wildlife · doi:10.1080/10871209.2025.2535595

Encouraging Multispecies Sociability through Art: Anthropomorphism in The Visitor Centre

Grobler, N. (2025) · de arte · doi:10.1080/00043389.2025.2550796

Heroes and villains: storytelling as a wildlife conservation tool in El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, MexicoPreprint

Castillo-Huitrón, N. M., Naranjo, E. J., & Flores, D. A. A. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5532941

Words Matter: Empathetic Interpretation Can Increase Children's Positive Perceptions of a Disliked Insect

Geest, E. A., Webb, E. L., & Snyder, R. J. (2026) · Zoo Biology · doi:10.1002/zoo.70069

Upstream of Values: Anthropomorphism and Empathy in an Extended Value-Belief-Norm Model of Wildlife Conservation SupportPreprint

Ghasemi, B., & Kyle, G. T. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.7388514

Life in the Underground: The Portrayal of Invertebrates in Children's Literature and Comics

Claessen, S. A. R. (2015) · Otago University Research Archive (University of Otago)

Anthropomorphized species as tools for conservation: utility beyond prosocial, intelligent and suffering species

Root‐Bernstein, M., Douglas, L. R., Smith, A. M., & Veríssimo, D. (2013) · Biodiversity and Conservation · doi:10.1007/s10531-013-0494-4 · Cited by 127 · see citing works

Anthropomorphizing Wildlife in Communications: A Literature Synthesis with Implications for Wildlife Management and Conservation

Chalgren, L., Abrams, K. M., & Nankey, P. (2026) · Journal of Applied Communications · doi:10.4148/jac.20845

Anthropomorphism: A Silent Danger to Wildlife Conservation

Perretta, G. P. (2025) · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · doi:10.5281/zenodo.17957315

The Effects of Public Perception of Anthropomorphism and Willingness to Provide Aid for Conservation for Endangered and Non–endangered Species Based on Familiarity

Serface, E., & Doneghy, S. (2019)

Anthropomorphism for wildlife: the effects of anthropomorphic cues and phylogenetic closeness on perceived animal-human similarity, conservation intention, and donation behavior

Shiu, P. P. K. (2024) · doi:10.32657/10356/179662