ABSTRACT

This study seeks to advance how intergroup dynamics can help us better understand the relations between humans and robots. Intergroup contact theory states that negative feelings toward an outgroup can be reduced through controlled intergroup contact. This study tests this theory by having study participants interact with either a human (member of the ingroup) or large humanoid robot (member of an outgroup) and measuring changes in social distance before and after the interaction. The findings suggest that robotkind is a distinct social group separate from humankind and as predicted by intergroup contact theory, exposure to a specific robot can override held prejudices against robots as a social group.

摘要

这项研究旨在推进群际动态如何帮助我们更好地理解人类与机器人之间的关系。群际接触理论指出，可以通过受控的群际接触来减少对外群的负面情绪。本研究通过让研究参与者与人类（内群体成员）或大型人形机器人（外群体成员）互动并测量互动前后社交距离的变化来测试这一理论。研究结果表明，robotkind 是一个不同于人类的独特社会群体，正如群体间接触理论所预测的那样，接触特定机器人可以克服对机器人作为一个社会群体的偏见。