Effect of State Loneliness on Robot Anthropomorphism: Potential Edge of Social Robots Compared to Common Nonhumans

Abstract

Abstract Previous studies have widely demonstrated that loneliness will increase people’s anthropomorphic tendency on nonhuman agents. This research extends the effect of loneliness to social robots and differentiates them and common nonhuman agents (e.g., gadgets, animals). Remarkably divergent effects have been verified: experimentally induced loneliness has a positive effect on anthropomorphism of a social robot but not a gadget clocky or an animal. Practical implications are: (1) could prime consumers’ state loneliness when marketing domestic robot products; (2) emphasize humanlike warmth when designing social robots for companion. The findings have found social robots’ edge in providing companionship compared with common nonhuman agents.