Article
Psychology, Developmental
Susan A. Gelman, Natalie S. Davidson, Valerie A. Umscheid
Summary: This study examined the tendency of 3-5 year old children to anthropomorphize their favorite toys from home and found that they were more likely to anthropomorphize objects with faces. Parent reports supported this finding by indicating that children who were attached to toys with faces engaged in more anthropomorphism at home.
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Business
Vanessa Apaolaza, Patrick Hartmann, Mario R. Paredes, Alejandra Trujillo, Clare D'Souza
Summary: This study examines the mechanisms behind the increasing demand for pet fashion and proposes a theoretical model that connects human partner attachment orientation, pet attachment, and the purchase of fashion pet clothing. The findings provide insights into the influences of pet attachment, anthropomorphism, and self-expansion on the purchase of pet fashion products, as well as the impact of human partner attachment orientation on pet attachment and product purchase.
JOURNAL OF BUSINESS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Masanori Yamaguchi, Meng Xianwei, Mikako Ishibashi, Yusuke Moriguchi, Hisashi Mitsuishi, Shoji Itakura
Summary: This study investigates individual differences in children's anthropomorphic tendencies toward their special objects and finds that these differences are correlated with parents' anthropomorphic tendencies, rather than being influenced by the motivation for social connection and the type of object.
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Iryna Pentina, Tyler Hancock, Tianling Xie
Summary: This study proposes and tests a human-Artificial Intelligence (AI) relationship development model in the context of social chatbots. By combining existing human-computer interaction theoretical concepts with interpersonal relationship theories, the study advances an explanatory model of human - AI relationship development mechanism. AI Anthropomorphism and AI Authenticity are identified as antecedents, AI Social Interaction as a mediator, and Attachment to AI as an outcome, moderated by the AI usage motivations. The study provides meaningful implications for theory, managerial practice, society, and suggestions for chatbot designers and future research.
COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Business
Rumen Pozharliev, Matteo De Angelis, Dario Rossi, Simona Romani, Willem Verbeke, Patrizia Cherubino
Summary: Customers' attachment styles influence their responses to frontline service robots, with those low in anxious attachment style more likely to react negatively. The level of anthropomorphism in robots cannot explain this phenomenon. Replacing frontline human agents with frontline robots may undermine customer attitude and behavioral responses.
PSYCHOLOGY & MARKETING
(2021)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Emanuela Prato-Previde, Elisa Basso Ricci, Elisa Silvia Colombo
Summary: The relationship between humans and animals is ancient, complex, and multifaceted. It can have positive effects on both humans and animals, but also negative and detrimental effects on animals or both humans and animals. Numerous studies have shown that this relationship provides physical and psychological benefits for both parties. However, a different perspective reveals that discomfort and suffering exist in human-animal relationships, affecting both animals and, in some cases, also people. Empathy, attachment, and anthropomorphism play important roles in establishing healthy relationships with animals. When these psychological processes become dysfunctional, as in animal hoarding, they can lead to physical or psychological suffering, or both, in animals. This work reviews the complex nature of the human-animal relationship, emphasizes the role of empathy, attachment, and anthropomorphism, and examines how these psychological processes contribute to animal hoarding, negatively impacting the well-being of both animals and humans.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Richard Moulding, Christopher Kings, Tess Knight
Summary: Recent research has highlighted the relationship between object attachment in Hoarding Disorder and Compulsive Buying-Shopping Disorder to individual's self-concept. An underdeveloped or discrepant self-concept may lead to dysfunctional object attachment behaviors. Addressing self-concept could be a potential advancement in psychological treatments for these disorders.
CURRENT OPINION IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geography
Rebecca Coleman
Summary: In this article, the author introduces the concept of economies of attachment as a third concept alongside forms of attachment and scenes of attachment. They explore how specific promissory objects become forms of attachment and how these objects shape ongoing and temporary attachments. The author argues that attachments not only differentiate promissory objects but also the subjects they appeal to. The significance of objects in attachment theories, particularly the future implications of promissory objects, is emphasized. The empirical question remains of how promissory objects can contribute to the creation of alternative futures and presents.
DIALOGUES IN HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Xueting Liu, Ying Cai, Yanqiang Tao, Wenxin Hou, Haiqun Niu, Xiaoyan Liu, Tong Xie, Yuting Li
Summary: This study examines the impact of insecure attachment on hoarding behavior and finds that anthropomorphism mediates the relationship between attachment anxiety and hoarding behavior, while hoarding beliefs moderate the relationship between attachment anxiety and hoarding behavior.
Article
Business
Erik Hermann
Summary: As AI applications become more humanized and emotionally intelligent, consumers may develop attachments to AI, leading to transformations in human-to-AI interactions. This could impact consumer behavior and personal social lives in various ways.
Article
Psychology, Social
Ashley E. Martin, Malia F. Mason
Summary: The debate about the role of technology in reinforcing gender stereotypes is ongoing. This study demonstrates that assigning gender to technology increases attachment and anthropomorphism. The paradoxical result shows that gendering technology reinforces stereotypes but also benefits the marketing of various technologies.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Herbert H. Clark, Kerstin Fischer
Summary: C&F argue that trait attribution is limited in explaining human-robot interactions, while we argue that it can explain the three issues posed by C&F. We also argue that the trait attribution approach is parsimonious, as it assumes that the same mechanisms of social cognition apply to human-robot interaction.
BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Sehar Sohail, Amber Sajjad, Sohail Zafar
Summary: This study explores the relationship between consumer psychological and dispositional traits and anthropomorphism in product advertisements. The findings suggest that meeting social needs and acquiring agent knowledge have a positive impact on anthropomorphic thinking, and there is a correlation between different dimensions of anthropomorphism.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Keong Yap, Jessica R. Grisham
Summary: Hoarding disorder is characterized by compulsive acquisition and difficulty discarding possessions, resulting in significant clutter that impacts functioning. Research suggests that object attachment in hoarding may be a compensatory response to unmet relational needs, with growing recognition of its insecure nature. However, critical gaps exist in longitudinal studies and exploration of the effects of interpersonal interventions on object attachment in hoarding. Further understanding the compensatory process in hoarding will have important implications for treating this disabling disorder.
CURRENT OPINION IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Business
Monika Sharma, Zillur Rahman
Summary: This paper critically reviews the existing literature on brand anthropomorphism and proposes an integrated framework for identifying future research opportunities. A systematic review of 101 articles spanning more than two decades was conducted to investigate the concept of brand anthropomorphism and human-like brands. The review identifies two diverse research traditions and provides recommendations for future research.
JOURNAL OF BUSINESS RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Tomas Stahl, Corey Cusimano
Summary: Individual variations in personal standards for thinking influence the nature and quality of beliefs. Strong commitments to epistemic virtues encourage careful thinking and protect against suspicious claims. However, individuals are more likely to hold biased or unsupported beliefs when they think that biased or evidentially poor reasoning is justified.
CURRENT OPINION IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2024)
Review
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Olivia Amanda O'Neill, Hooria Jazaieri
Summary: This review adopts a social-functionalist theoretical lens to examine the influence of humor on emotional culture in organizations and social units. It proposes four primary pathways through which humor influences emotional culture and explores the negative consequences of humor. The review also highlights unanswered questions in the literature and suggests future research opportunities.
CURRENT OPINION IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2024)
