Social Psychology and Society
2024. Vol. 15, no. 2, 155–163
doi:10.17759/sps.2024150210
ISSN: 2221-1527 / 2311-7052 (online)
Exploratory Investigation of the Effects of Perspective Taking and Awareness of Vulnerability on Impressions of Robots
Abstract
Objective. This exploratory study investigated whether perspective-taking and awareness of vulnerability procedures could enhance impressions of robots.
Background. A society characterized by the harmonious coexistence of humans and robots is poised for realization in the imminent future. Nevertheless, numerous challenges must be confronted for the materialization of such a societal paradigm. One among them pertains to the prevailing tendency for humans to harbor adverse perceptions of robots, the amelioration of which proves to be a complex endeavor. The present study undertakes an exploratory investigation into strategies aimed at mitigating unfavorable impressions associated with robots.
Study design. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: control group, perspective perception group, and robot vulnerability awareness group, and received different instructions.
Participants. Online experiments were conducted with 360 participants who were asked to imagine and describe a day in the life of a robot, and their impressions of the robot were measured using a questionnaire.
Measurements. Upon conjecturing and articulating the robot's daily routines, participants shared their perceptions of the robot through the application of three assessment tools: the Robot Anxiety Scale, the Mind Attribution Scale, and the Familiarity Rating Scale.
Results. The manipulation checks confirmed successful manipulation, but there was no evidence that perspective-taking or awareness of vulnerability influenced impressions of the robot.
Conclusions. The efficacy of perspective-taking, a technique established as beneficial in ameliorating adverse perceptions of humans, may exhibit diminished effectiveness in the context of alleviating negative impressions associated with robots.
General Information
Keywords: social robot; perspective taking; awareness of vulnerability of the robot; empathy; human impression of the robot
Journal rubric: Empirical Research
Article type: scientific article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/sps.2024150210
Funding. This work was supported by JSPS Topic-Setting Program to Advance Cutting-Edge Humanities and Social Sciences Research Grant Number JPJS00122674991
Received: 04.08.2023
Accepted:
For citation: Ikeda S. Exploratory Investigation of the Effects of Perspective Taking and Awareness of Vulnerability on Impressions of Robots. Sotsial'naya psikhologiya i obshchestvo = Social Psychology and Society, 2024. Vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 155–163. DOI: 10.17759/sps.2024150210.
Full text
Introduction
Method
Participants
The study was conducted using an online survey, with a total of 360 participants (136 female, 223 male, 1 non-response, Mean age = 51,01 years, SD = 10,53, range = 18-60) recruited through GMO Research (https://gmo-research.com/). The procedures for this study were approved by the Ethical Review Board of the author's institution (approval number 22H11).
Results
Variables |
Control |
Perspective taking |
Awareness of vulnerability |
Perspective x vulnerability |
RAS |
3,369 (0,987) |
3,445 (0,820) |
3,445 (0,946) |
3,524 (0,846) |
MAS |
3,456 (1,006) |
3,551 (0,874) |
3,454 (0,927) |
3,361 (1,031) |
FRS |
4,253 (1,010) |
4,370 (0,891) |
4,463 (0,897) |
4,257 (1,171) |
Discussion
Conclusion
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