# "Anthropomorphism" antonym? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 24, 2007, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anthropomorphism-antonym/413023 "2007-07-24T23:19:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anthropomorphism-antonym/413023/21 "2011-06-14T07:16:49Z")
Wikipedia lists theomorphism when humans are attributed with divine traits (ie: “In His image, He created them.”), but that’s all I can find for that matter. Anthropocentrism seems to be the word I’m looking for, but I don’t know if it has quite the right nuance. ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anthropomorphism-antonym/413023/22 "2011-06-14T16:00:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Mmmm. Going to have to disagree with you, Spiritus. Dehumanization is not a comparison. It is the act of taking away, removing, or denying the traits which make us human. It is not the assignment of non-human traits to human. Tom-A-to, tom-ah-to. It is a descriptive action. “Denying [human] traits” is functionally indistinguishable from assigning non-human traits. “He is emotionless”. “He lacks emotion”. Both statements are dehumanizing. > [@](#): > > is there a word that describes denying a trait or characteristic in an animal because the speaker believes the trait can only exist in humans? For instance, there are those who say that animals do not experience emotions; only humans can. I would disagree with this, citing personal experience with pets and other animals. What error would I accuse the other speaker of? Religion? 🙂 Joking aside, you might accuse them of _Speciesism_. I am not a fan of the word, but it does appear to be gaining acceptance. _Human exceptionalism_ is another option. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anthropomorphism-antonym/413023.md?page=1)