Switching Off a Robot: The Influence of Social Interaction and Objection on Behaviors Towards Robots

• In Event: Communication and Technology Top Student Papers

Abstract

Building on the notion that people respond to media as if they were real, switching off a robot which exhibits lifelike behavior implies an interesting situation. In an experimental lab study with a 2x2 between-subjects-design (N = 85), people are given the choice to switch off a robot with which they just interacted. The style of the interaction was either social (mimicking human behavior) or functional (displaying machinelike behavior). Additionally, the robot either voiced an objection against being switched off or it remained silent. More people left the robot on, when the robot objected, which could be due to the enhanced perception of lifelikeness derived from the robot’s display of intentionality. Furthermore, individuals hesitated the longest time when they had a functional interaction with it before, which can be explained by people’s cognitive overload when the robot suddenly displays own feelings, thoughts, and desires after not revealing anything personal before.

Authors

• Aike C. Horstmann, University Duisburg-Essen

• Nikolai Bock, U of Duisburg-Essen

• Eva Linhuber, U of Duisburg-Essen

• Carolin Strassmann, U Duisburg-Essen

• Jessica Martina Szczuka, U of Duisburg-Essen