nonhuman actors

Nonhuman actors are objects or elements, like technology, animals, or environmental features, that actively influence events and decisions in a situation, much like human participants do. In fields like sociology or environmental studies, recognizing nonhuman actors helps us understand how these elements shape outcomes, interactions, and processes. They are considered "actors" because they have agency in affecting change, even though they are not human. This perspective broadens the way we analyze systems, highlighting the interconnectedness between humans and their surroundings or tools in shaping realities.