Haptically Experienced Animacy Facilitates Emotion Regulation: A Theory-Driven Investigation

TL;DR

This study investigates how a haptic, zoomorphic robot can support emotion regulation by providing comforting touch, demonstrating its potential to enhance mental well-being through a novel, biologically inspired approach.

Contribution

The paper introduces a theoretically grounded haptic robot (CHORA) that supports emotion regulation, filling empirical gaps in understanding touch-based regulation mechanisms.

Findings

Haptically experienced animacy aids emotion regulation.

CHORA supports multiple emotion regulation strategies.

Physiological and self-report data confirm regulatory effects.

Abstract

Emotion regulation (ER) is essential to mental well-being but often difficult to access, especially in high-intensity moments or for individuals with clinical vulnerabilities. While existing technology-based ER tools offer value, they typically rely on self-reflection (e.g., emotion tracking, journaling) or co-regulation through verbal modalities (reminders, text-based conversational tools), which may not be accessible or effective when most needed. The biological role of the touch modality makes it an intriguing alternate pathway, but empirical evidence is limited and under-theorized. Building on our prior theoretical framework describing how a comforting haptic co-regulating adjunct (CHORA) can support ER, we developed a zoomorphic robot CHORA with looped biomimetic breathing and heartbeat behaviors. We evaluated its effects in a mixed-methods in-lab study (N=30), providing physiological, self-report, custom questionnaire, and retrospective interview data. Our findings demonstrate the regulatory effects of haptically experienced animacy, corroborate prior work, and validate CHORA's {theoretically grounded} potential to facilitate four ER strategies.