The Incomplete Bridge: How AI Research (Mis)Engages with Psychology

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how AI research engages with psychology by examining interdisciplinary citations, identifying integration patterns, and highlighting underexplored areas to improve collaboration and AI system design.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of AI-psychology interdisciplinary engagement, revealing citation patterns, misapplications, and guidance for better integration.

Findings

Identified key psychology domains frequently cited in AI research

Mapped patterns of interdisciplinary integration and underexplored areas

Highlighted common misapplications of psychology theories in AI

Abstract

Social sciences have accumulated a rich body of theories and methodologies for investigating the human mind and behaviors, while offering valuable insights into the design and understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems. Focusing on psychology as a prominent case, this study explores the interdisciplinary synergy between AI and the field by analyzing 1,006 LLM-related papers published in premier AI venues between 2023 and 2025, along with the 2,544 psychology publications they cite. Through our analysis, we identify key patterns of interdisciplinary integration, locate the psychology domains most frequently referenced, and highlight areas that remain underexplored. We further examine how psychology theories/frameworks are operationalized and interpreted, identify common types of misapplication, and offer guidance for more effective incorporation. Our work provides a comprehensive map of interdisciplinary engagement between AI and psychology, thereby facilitating deeper collaboration and advancing AI systems.