Perceptions of Infidelity with Sex Robots

Nina J. Rothstein,D. Connolly,E. D. Visser,Elizabeth Phillips

Published 2021 in IEEE/ACM International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction

ABSTRACT

In two surveys of adults in the United States (N=723), we asked about perceptions of the degree to which a variety of behaviors, when engaged in with a sex robot or a human, would constitute monogamous relationship infidelity (Study 1), and also asked respondents to consider monogamous partner behavior when committed with a robot that was matched to sexual partner preferences (Study 2). Study 1 revealed that acts committed with sex robots were considered less severe and less likely to be judged as infidelity as those same acts committed with another human. Results further revealed that male survey respondents rated all partner behaviors with sex robots as less likely to constitute cheating behavior than their female counterparts. This finding may be explained by the portrayal of sex robots as hyper-feminized female sexual partners for men, both in the way these technologies are presented as well as how they are sold. However, when asked to consider a sex robot that was matched to males or females (Study 2), this difference disappeared. For all respondents, giving sex robots specificity as either male or female resulted in higher ratings of partner infidelity as compared to Study 1. This work allows us to empirically speak to a common concern at the center of many debates over the societal implications of sex robots-potential harm to human relationships. CCS CONCEPTS • Human-centered computing $\rightarrow$Empirical studies in HCI.

PUBLICATION RECORD

  • Publication year

    2021

  • Venue

    IEEE/ACM International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction

  • Publication date

    2021-03-08

  • Fields of study

    Computer Science, Psychology

  • Identifiers
  • External record

    Open on Semantic Scholar

  • Source metadata

    Semantic Scholar

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