1) Ascription 2) Attribution 
Animatism is a term coined by British anthropologist Robert Marett to refer to `a belief in a generalized, impersonal power over which people have some measure of control`. Marett argues that certain cultures believe `people, animals, plants, and inanimate objects were endowed with certain powers, which were both impersonal and supernatural.` ...
(from the article `religion, study of`) The English anthropologist R.R. Marett (1866–1943), in contrast to Tylor, viewed what he termed animatism as of basic importance. He took his clue ...
Attribution of mental or spiritual qualities to both living beings and nonliving things. ... See: animism. ... (05 Mar 2000) ... 
Type: Term Pronunciation: an′i-mă-tizm Definitions: 1. Attribution of mental or spiritual qualities to both living beings and nonliving things.
[n] - the attribution of consciousness and personality to natural phenomena such as thunderstorms and earthquakes and to objects such as plants and stones
animatism 1. The belief that inanimate things have consciousness or personality. 2. The ascription of psychic qualities to inanimate as well as animate objects.
noun the attribution of consciousness and personality to natural phenomena such as thunderstorms and earthquakes and to objects such as plants and stones
the attribution of consciousness to inanimate objects and natural phenomena.