Robotic Pets in Human Lives: Implications for the Human-Animal Bond and for Human Relationships with Personified Technologies

• Published in: Journal of social issues Vol. 65; no. 3; pp. 545 - 567
• Main Authors: Melson, Gail F., Kahn, Jr, Peter H., Beck, Alan, Friedman, Batya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01.09.2009; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Animal behavior; Animal Human Relations; Children; Content analysis; Dogs; Human relations; Mental Health; Pets; Robotics; Social Behavior; Social Relations; Socialization; Studies; Technology; Therapists
• ISSN: 0022-4537; 1540-4560
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-4560.2009.01613.x

Robotic “pets” are being marketed as social companions and are used in the emerging field of robot‐assisted activities, including robot‐assisted therapy (RAA). However, the limits to and potential of robotic analogues of living animals as social and therapeutic partners remain unclear. Do children and adults view robotic pets as “animal‐like,”“machine‐like,” or some combination of both? How do social behaviors differ toward a robotic versus living dog? To address these issues, we synthesized data from three studies of the robotic dog AIBO: (1) a content analysis of 6,438 Internet postings by 182 adult AIBO owners; (2) observations and interviews with 80 preschoolers during play periods with AIBO and with a stuffed dog; and (3) observations and interviews with 72 children, aged 7–15 years, who played with AIBO and a living dog. Overall, the studies revealed that “hybrid” cognitions and behaviors about AIBO emerged: the robotic dog was treated as a technological artifact that also embodied attributes of living animals, such as having mental states, being a social other, and having moral standing (although this latter finding remained difficult to interpret). Implications for use of robotic pets as companions and in interventions or therapy are explored.