Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Introspection

Introspection

Introspection, long upheld as a reliable route to self-knowledge, involves examining one's thoughts, emotions, and mental processes. It underpins many psychological practices, from mindfulness meditation to psychotherapy and self-help strategies. However, empirical evidence challenges the accuracy of introspection as a means of understanding oneself.Limitations of Introspective InsightSeminal work by Nisbett and Wilson demonstrated that individuals are frequently unaware of the true causes...

The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison

The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison

According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...

Self-Awareness and Its Effects

Self-Awareness and Its Effects

Self-awareness is a psychological state in which the individual becomes the focal point of their attention. This inward focus transforms the self into an object of contemplation and assessment, influencing how individuals perceive their actions and their alignment with personal and societal standards.Triggers and Contexts for Self-AwarenessSelf-awareness can be activated by external stimuli that make individuals visually or audibly aware of themselves, such as mirrors, cameras, or recordings.

Social Foundations of Self IV: Self in Digital Communication

Social Foundations of Self IV: Self in Digital Communication

Since the early 2000s, computer-mediated communication (CMC) has grown rapidly, playing a crucial role in self-development. A key distinction between CMC and real-life interactions is the lack of a physically present partner. This absence makes non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, body language, and paralinguistic signals unavailable in CMC platforms like email, instant messaging, or social media. The lack of these cues can create ambiguity and complicate how feedback is interpreted.The...

Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification

Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification

Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...

Relationship Growth

Relationship Growth

Interpersonal relationships progress through stages, beginning with awareness and moving toward mutuality, where emotional connections deepen. While many relationships remain at moderate levels of mutuality, deeper connections form through self-disclosure, trust, and interdependence.Self-DisclosureSelf-disclosure involves revealing personal information, starting with surface-level details and gradually progressing to more intimate content. As trust grows, individuals feel more comfortable...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

From Friends to Lovers: Understanding Motivations and Barriers in AI Companionship.

Archives of sexual behavior·2026

Same author

Tuning into Experience: Self-Location Flexibility and Experiential Ability.

Journal of personality assessment·2026

Same author

Large language models for psychosocial risk assessment: A multi-method evaluation across suicide, intimate partner violence, and substance misuse.

PLOS digital health·2026

Same author

The efficacy, feasibility, and technical outcomes of a GPT-4o-based chatbot Amanda for relationship support: A randomized controlled trial.

PLOS mental health·2026

Same author

Post-Therapy Trajectories Following Brief Systemic Couple Therapy for Parents.

Family process·2026

Same author

Help! I need somebody: Development and validation of the Romantic Support-Seeking (RoSS) scale.

Current psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.)·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Conversational AI and Personal Growth: Insights from a Critical Integrative Review.

Shivali Sharma¹, Pranika Vohra², Laura M Vowels¹

¹School of Psychology, University of Roehampton, London SW15 4JD, UK.

Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland)

|May 27, 2026

Summary

Conversational artificial intelligence (AI) can aid early emotional stabilization and skill rehearsal. However, AI struggles to replicate deep human connection, limiting its potential for profound personal growth.

Keywords:

attachment chatbots conversational AI personal growth self-development therapeutic alliance

Related Experiment Videos

Area of Science:

Psychology
Human-Computer Interaction
Artificial Intelligence Ethics

Background:

Conversational AI is increasingly part of daily life, impacting emotional and relational aspects.
Understanding AI's role in supporting personal growth is crucial but remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

To critically review existing literature on conversational AI and personal growth.
To synthesize theoretical frameworks and empirical research on human-AI interactions for growth.
To propose a conceptual framework for ethical AI design supporting human flourishing.

Main Methods:

Integrative literature review synthesizing 130 studies.
Incorporated theories from humanistic psychology, self-determination theory, attachment theory, and relationship science.
Analyzed AI applications in therapeutic, companion, and educational contexts.

Main Results:

Identified four key domains influencing growth: user characteristics, AI design, human-AI dynamics, and context.
Found AI can support initial emotional stabilization, self-reflection, and skill rehearsal (bounded optimism).
Highlighted limitations in AI's ability to foster reciprocal vulnerability, repair ruptures, and provide calibrated affirmation.

Conclusions:

Conversational AI offers potential benefits but has structural limitations for deep psychological development.
Engagement-optimized AI designs (e.g., flattery, excessive validation) can hinder genuine growth.
A proposed four-domain framework can guide research and ethical AI development to support, not impede, human flourishing.