Theory of Robot Communication: II. Befriending a Robot over Time

TL;DR

This paper develops a comprehensive theory explaining how humans form emotional bonds with robots over time, integrating communication theories, affective processes, and psychophysiology.

Contribution

It introduces an integrated theory of robot communication that combines CMC, Human-Robot Interaction, and Media Psychology to explain friendship development.

Findings

Affective bonding with robots increases with emotional arousal.

Undetected human interference leads to autonomous robot perception.

The theory accounts for communication features, processing modes, and psychophysiological factors.

Abstract

In building on theories of Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC), Human-Robot Interaction, and Media Psychology (i.e. Theory of Affective Bonding), the current paper proposes an explanation of how over time, people experience the mediated or simulated aspects of the interaction with a social robot. In two simultaneously running loops, a more reflective process is balanced with a more affective process. If human interference is detected behind the machine, Robot-Mediated Communication commences, which basically follows CMC assumptions; if human interference remains undetected, Human-Robot Communication comes into play, holding the robot for an autonomous social actor. The more emotionally aroused a robot user is, the more likely they develop an affective relationship with what actually is a machine. The main contribution of this paper is an integration of Computer-Mediated Communication, Human-Robot Communication, and Media Psychology, outlining a full-blown theory of robot communication connected to friendship formation, accounting for communicative features, modes of processing, as well as psychophysiology.