Why do people make dolls so human-like?

Question

In Japanese culture in particular, dolls are used as a substitute for human interaction - using dolls to train girls for the role as "mother" in later life or to project a better version of ourselves through them. That's all avators, dolls, Sims, etc. really are.

Opinions?

Answer 1

Dolls have always been as human-like as the technology allows (and I'm talking tens of thousands of years ago).  What little girl would want to play with a doll shaped like a bolder or a rosebush?

Answer 2

I suppose it does help to educate people.  Good for teaching children how things would really be.  Maybe it would deter them from ruing their lives.

Answer 3

In American culture, doss are used the same way. Dolls are made as human looking, behaving as possible. I remember when Barbie had no shape. It was a very BIG deal when she was given a shape!

Answer 4

because its easier for children to relate to, i cant see children relating to, lets say, a brick in a pram do you? lol ...now theres your dummy brick and a bottle for you! haha thats quite funny...ok i will stop now....

Answer 5

I think that you answered your own question there.

Answer 6

It's good training, just like how tiger cubs fight each other as children so they can learn to hunt.

Answer 7

well it is human nature to create something erfect, and since we believe that we are perfect we create "perfect dolls". also a human will take care of something better if it has human like characteristics, think about it for a moment, what would you rather take care of a cute little dog that is nice and furry and has a baby like nose and eyes or a little dog that has big eyes and a big nose but is still fury and fluffu but has no human characteristics. i think tha your answer would be the one with baby like nose and eyes right, so the the reason i think that we create human like dolls is because we have an instinct of soing it.

hope this helps.

Answer 8

Don't you just hate it? I'm always mistaken for a doll....argh!

Answer 9

well,i think that is what dolls are made for....a substitute for a human but in a much smaller size.....ever since dolls are meant for a toy,that is why it is made small......children are allowed to play with dolls so that they feel as if it were a human being,that way they would no longer be afraid to be among humans.......well,at least that's my personal opinion........i leave the rest to you......

Answer 10

well rather get practice with something cant be broken or injured..the usage of dolls does wonders in the aid of child psycologists and often a child can express how he/she feels just by interraction with dolls...

Answer 11

Thats like asking "Why do they make food taste good"

Answer 12

And your point is?  Cultures all over the world, going back thousands of years have been making dolls.  Yes children learn parenting skills by watching the adults and playing with dolls.

Your claim about projecting better versions of ourselves is based on what?

By playing with a doll a child grows up better prepared for parenthood.  That in itself is a projection of a better version of oneself.

To claim that "that's all avators, dolls, Sims, etc, really are" is far too general a statement and shows there is still a lot about  people that you have too learn.

Answer 13

I think they look so life-like so that It's that much funner to play with, I know, Immature answer, but its true.

I mean, take the LUTS dolls, they're a lot different than barbies, but hey,, I'd much rather play with a luts doll than a barbie because of how it looks. Get what im saying?

Answer 14

Who would want a doll that didn't look realistic?  There are a lot of beautiful dolls out there.  Some are baby dolls for little children to hug and love and pretend they are real babies.  Some are just for looks; just to look pretty.

Answer 15

Dolls only started out as s*x toys so that's probably why there soo human- like

Answer 16

because