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My dear robot : anthropomorphism and loneliness

Chapman, Stuart (2015) My dear robot : anthropomorphism and loneliness.

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Abstract:In the past few years the concept of anthropomorphism became a relevant topic in the human-robotic interaction due to improvements in humanlike robots and increased use in social health care facilities. The Three-Factor Theory of Epley tries to explain when humans tend to anthropomorphize robots and when not on three psychological determinants (Epley, Waytz, & Cacioppo, 2007). Our research investigates the association of the psychological determinant sociality motivation and anthropomorphism. We examined the association by testing the influence of induced loneliness and chronicle loneliness on anthropomorphizing robots. The induced loneliness was tested in an experiment in which participants were separated in two conditions (experimental and control) and rated robots on the „Perceived Humanness‟ Index. The chronicle loneliness was measured by the UCLA Loneliness Scale. The results were tested by a linear mixed effects model and a correlational analysis and a significant result was found. Participants in the experimental condition rated robots higher on the „Perceived Humanness‟ Scale than participants in the control group. The „Three Factor Theory‟ of Epley could only partially be confirmed and needs further research on the dispositional factor chronicle loneliness.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology BSc (56604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/68291
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