Pippa McAinsh

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About

Pippa McAinsh is a social psychologist whose research explores the fascinating intersection of social motivation, anthropomorphism, and human-animal relationships. Her most-cited work, "Sociality Motivation and Anthropomorphic Thinking about Pets" (2014, 38 citations), makes a significant contribution to understanding why people attribute human-like mental states to their pets. McAinsh demonstrates that sociality motivation—the fundamental human need for social connection—is a key driver of individual differences in anthropomorphic thinking. Her research reveals that individuals who feel socially isolated or disconnected are more likely to perceive their pets as possessing human-like thoughts and emotions, suggesting that anthropomorphism serves a compensatory function for unmet social needs. This work has important implications for understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying the powerful human-animal bond and the role of pets in providing social support. McAinsh's findings bridge evolutionary psychology, social cognition, and human-animal studies, offering valuable insights for researchers interested in how our social motivations shape our perceptions of the non-human world.