How Coping With Emotions Shapes Perceptions of Social Healthcare Robots

• In Event: CAT Hybrid Session 2: Virtual Experiences and Interaction

Abstract

Due to the increasing pressure on healthcare systems, robots may provide a solution. However, little is known about how people’s prior emotional state may affect the perception and acceptance of such robots. Following appraisal theories of emotion, preliminary research found that particularly the appraisal of coping potential is important in acting as mediator between prior emotional states and perceptions of a healthcare robot. Hence, the current study focused on how actual coping may influence subsequent robot perceptions. Contrasting previous studies, Study 1 (N=101) used a real humanoid robot but results were somewhat confusing; while manipulations were effective, effects on robot perceptions were not in line with previous studies. Because the novelty aspect of interacting with a real robot may have blurred results, we conducted Study 2, in which participants interacted briefly with the robot before the actual study. Preliminary results are exciting and will be presented at the ICA conference!

Authors

• Marloes Spekman, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

• Elly A. Konijn, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

• Johan F. Hoorn, VU U Amsterdam