Psychology explains why humans anthropomorphize machines

The tendency for humans to argue with, negotiate with, or even feel guilt toward machines is rooted in psychological anthropomorphism. This phenomenon involves attributing human qualities, motivations, or intentions to non-human entities.

When technology such as printers, GPS, or AI chatbots fails to function as expected, people often resort to social rules to understand the behavior, attempt to regain control, or find someone to blame. According to theories developed by psychologists Nicholas Epley, Adam Waytz, and John T. Cacioppo, humans use human behavior as a reference point because it is the most familiar framework available for explaining unpredictable actions.