Why do we Apologize to Inanimate Objects?

You, assuming you’re human, have probably (maybe unconsciously) apologized to an object before sometime in your life; whether that’s to your stuffed animal for pushing it off the bed, or to a door for slamming it too hard. But what is the reason behind such actions?

Let’s state the obvious. Some may just be apologizing to objects out of habit. Our social norms have whipped humans into shape – on a daily basis, we are expected to behave politely and in a proper manner. So it’s not entirely surprising that an “excuse me” or “sorry” slips out of one’s mouth. In no way is this a negative aspect, however – if anything, this infers that humans are civilized and beings with a decent sense of humility and respect.

Although scientists cannot provide a definitive answer, there is some sort of a psychological logic behind our “feeling” for objects. The term is anthropomorphization, referring to the action of applying human-like characteristics and emotions to non-human objects. Our perceptions and opinions are shaped through inherent bias – our ways of everyday life, and our ways of society. When we are unsure how to act or feel, the easiest thing is to filter what we see through our sense of the world, and mold a perspective that reflects our values and beliefs. Thus, our immediate emotions of fluster and apology towards bumping into a person may also transfer to a cabinet.

Are Some More Likely to Empathize with Others?

In terms of genders, studies showed that women are stereotypically more empathetic and nurturing, and men are comparatively more cognitive and indifferent. Therefore, the probability that you would see a woman caring for inanimate objects is significantly higher. Not only that, women in multiple cultures stereotypically care more about how their actions emotionally affect others, whereas men are typically more dismissive towards feelings.

In addition, those who have previously experienced trauma – such as growing up in a household with constant conflict and grieving the loss of a loved one – have been proven to empathize more and over-apologize. Many have reported that they have developed high levels of sensitivity and anxiety to cope with unsafe environments. This anxiety also results in a habitual sense of fear associated with everyday tasks, mistakes, etc. Thus, a strong emotional attachment is cultivated, which not only applies to humans but inanimate objects.

Nevertheless, empathy is not a bad thing; it’s normal until it crosses the line to extreme obsession and self-sabotage. Apologizing to inanimate objects may seem like a funny thing to laugh at on the surface, but on a deeper level, it can uncover much about others.

Works Cited

Christov-Moore, Leonardo, et al. “Empathy: Gender Effects in Brain and Behavior.” Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, vol. 46, no. 4, 16 Sept. 2014, pp. 604–627, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.09.001.

Greenberg, David M., et al. “Elevated Empathy in Adults Following Childhood Trauma.” Plos One, vol. 13, no. 10, 3 Oct. 2018, journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0203886, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0203886.

Mota-Rojas, Daniel, et al. “Anthropomorphism and Its Adverse Effects on the Distress and Welfare of Companion Animals.” Animals, vol. 11, no. 11, 15 Nov. 2021, p. 3263, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8614365/, https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11113263.

Nicioli, Taylor. “Why Do Some People Give Human Feelings to Inanimate Objects? What Experts Say.” CNN, 7 Sept. 2024, edition.cnn.com/2024/09/07/health/empathize-inanimate-objects-anthropomorphize-wellness. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.

Rakshit, Devrupa. “Is This Normal? “I Apologize to Inanimate Objects.”” Theswaddle.com, 2021, www.theswaddle.com/is-this-normal-i-apologize-to-inanimate-objects. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.