Ascribing human qualities to inanimate objects is called anthropomorphism. As my mother got older she collected garden ornaments, which fall into this anthropomorphic category. I have now inherited these once cherished objects and find it difficult to part with them, because for me they are imbued with subjective human emotion instead of retaining their original objective materiality. Anthropomorphism is generally associated with innocuous positive feelings such as cuteness, enablement and a sense of responsibility. However, it is also linked to psychological issues such as an anxious attachment to objects that can lead to hoarding.
