Lorenzo Morocutti

University of Genoa, Italian Institute of Technology

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Lorenzo Morocutti is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of social robotics, cognitive modeling, and human-robot interaction. His work uniquely bridges psychology and robotics by exploring how computational models of Theory of Mind (ToM) can be embedded in humanoid robots, with a particular focus on the Dark Triad personality traits—Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism. Morocutti’s major contributions include developing the first robotic implementations of “Nice and Nasty” Theory of Mind, as seen in his highly cited 2023 paper (4 citations), and creating Machiavellian robot behaviors that challenge conventional assumptions about artificial social cognition. His 2024 study on child-like robots’ joint attention (3 citations) reveals how robot behavior influences human drawing strategies, offering insights into socio-cognitive mechanisms. Morocutti’s work has been recognized for its originality in merging antisocial personality constructs with robotic design, opening new avenues for understanding both human psychology and ethical AI development. His research is foundational for creating socially aware robots that can navigate complex human interactions, making him a rising figure in cognitive robotics.