Reducing the uncanny valley by dehumanizing humanoid robots

• Published in: Computers in human behavior Vol. 125; p. 106945
• Main Authors: Yam, Kai Chi, Bigman, Yochanan, Gray, Kurt
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elmsford Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2021; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Aesthetic design; Dehumanization; Human robot interaction; Humanoid; Mind perceptions; Robots; Uncanny valley; Uncanny valley; Dehumanization; Mind perceptions; Human robot interaction
• ISSN: 0747-5632; 1873-7692
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2021.106945

Humanoid robots are often experienced as unnerving, a psychological phenomenon called the “uncanny valley.” Past work reveals that humanlike robots are unnerving in part because they are ascribed humanlike feelings. We leverage this past work to provide a potential solution to the uncanny valley. Three studies reveal that “dehumanizing” humanoid robots—stripping robots of their apparent capacity for feelings—can significantly reduce the uncanny valley. Participants high on trait dehumanization (Study 1) or experimentally instructed to dehumanize (Study 2) reported lower feelings of uncanniness when viewing a humanoid robot, an effect mediated by reduced perceptions of feelings. We replicate these effects in an experimental field study where hotel guests interacted with real humanoid robots in Japan, and reveal that dehumanization reduces the uncanny valley without decreasing customers’ satisfaction (Study 3). •The uncanny valley can be mitigated by a dehumanization manipulation.•This effect is mediated by reduced experience perceptions.•This simple manipulation can improve user experience of humanoid robots.