How culture modulates anthropomorphism in Human-Robot Interaction: A review

Area of Science:

• Human-Robot Interaction (HRI)
• Social Robotics
• Cross-Cultural Psychology

Background:

• Anthropomorphism, attributing human characteristics to nonhuman agents like robots, is a key factor in HRI.
• Understanding cultural influences on anthropomorphism is crucial for designing effective human-robot interactions.
• Previous research suggests culture may modulate anthropomorphism, but findings are not always consistent.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing literature on the relationship between culture and anthropomorphism towards robots.
• To investigate how definitions of culture and anthropomorphism, and methodological factors, influence this relationship.
• To identify gaps and provide recommendations for future research in this area.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of studies examining culture and anthropomorphism in HRI.
• Analysis of how variations in definitions (culture, anthropomorphism) and methodologies (measurement, participant/robot characteristics) impact findings.
• Synthesis of results to identify trends and inconsistencies.

Main Results:

• A relationship between culture and anthropomorphism towards robots was observed in most reviewed studies.
• The directionality of this cultural influence on anthropomorphism was inconsistent across studies.
• A small subset of studies found no significant relationship between culture and robot anthropomorphism.

Conclusions:

• Individual cultural profiles significantly impact the attribution of anthropomorphic traits to robots.
• While a link exists, the variability in study methodologies likely contributes to mixed and inconsistent findings.
• Further research with controlled and rigorous methods is needed to fully understand culture's impact on robot anthropomorphism.