Anthropomorphism, agency, and ethopoeia - computers as social actors
- Author
- Clifford Nass, Jonathan Steuer, Ellen Tauber, Heidi Reeder
- Published
Abstract
Attempts to generate anthropomorphic responses to computers have been based on complex, agent-based interfaces. This study provides experimental evidence that minimal social cues can induce computer-literate individuals to use social rules-praise of others is more valid than praise of self, praise of others is friendlier than pmise of self, and criticism of others is less friendly than criticism of self - to evaluate the performance of computers. We also demonstrate that different voices are treated as distinct agents.
dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/259964.260137
Notes
Even when a computer interface provides only minimal ‘social cues,’ users tend to anthropomorphize the computer. This can be used to encourage social interaction with computers.
The study’s significance:
- First, before Nass, it was assumed that inducing anthropomorphism required fairly elaborate and complex social cues. Nass showed that even minimal cues can induce anthropomorphism.
- Second, before Nass, anthropomorphism was thought to arise from users’ ignorance or psychological errors. Nass showed that even computer-literate users (people well aware that a computer has no ‘self’) engage in anthropomorphism.