The Psychological Aspects of Human-Robot Interactions

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About this Research Topic

Submission deadlines

  1. Manuscript Summary Submission Deadline 14 April 2025 | Manuscript Submission Deadline 2 August 2025

  2. This Research Topic is still accepting articles.

Background

Robot psychology is a growing field reflecting the psychological significance of person-robotic creature communication (Libin & Libin, 2004, p. 1792). From the perspective of human needs, various interactions between humans and robots deserve special psychological attention. As human-robot interaction appears to become more vivid and reciprocal, there is an increasing need to understand the variables that influence the quality of human-robot interactions and their psychological corollaries.
Such interactions may vary in the level of interdependence and shared representations. Commonly, we distinguish between instruction (including exchanging information, shared environment and master-slave relationship), cooperation (including exchanging information, shared environment, shared goal and independent subtasks) and collaboration (including exchange of information, shared representation, shared goal, independent subtasks and mutual learning, adaptation and trust). In situations where humans and robots work together in close proximity, the agents' actions must be coordinated so that humans and robots can work together efficiently without hindering each other.

We specifically aim to collect the latest research findings in robot psychology and human-robot interactions. Therefore, this Topic aims to delve into the intricate dynamics between humans and robots, exploring the psychological aspects and perspectives that underpin these relationships. One primary goal is to explore how individuals perceive and emotionally engage with robots, shedding light on the factors influencing trust, empathy, and acceptance of robotic entities. Additionally, the collection seeks to investigate the psychological impact of robots on human behavior, cognition, and social interactions, which is paramount for designing robots that seamlessly integrate into various aspects of human life. Industry 5.0 and the sociotechnical transformation, the humanized vision of technological transformations in industry, balancing the current and future needs of workers and society with sustainable optimization cycles of energy consumption, material processing, and product lifecycles. Nevertheless, the issue aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue, encouraging collaboration between psychologists, engineers, ethicists, and other experts to shape a holistic understanding of the psychological dimensions inherent in the evolving landscape of human-robot interactions. By advancing our comprehension of robot psychology, this thematic issue aspires to pave the way for the responsible and ethical development of robots that enhance human well-being and productivity.

We invite scholars to contribute their research exploring any aspects of robot psychology, particularly human-robot interaction. We welcome a variety of articles on this Research Topic, encompassing systematic and narrative reviews, case reports, brief research reports, empirical studies and interventions as well. Authors are invited to explore diverse themes such as:

• Exploring the psychological effects of Human-Robot Interaction and prolonged interactions with robots
• Investigating the psychological factors influencing human trust in robots and the acceptance of robotic technology
• Discovering the emotional aspects of human-robot relationships, including the ability of robots to recognize and respond to human emotions
• Impact of Human-Robot Interaction on social behavior
• Industry 5.0 from a theoretical and practical aspect
ethical considerations on the topic

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

  • Brief Research Report
  • Conceptual Analysis
  • Data Report
  • Editorial
  • General Commentary
  • Hypothesis and Theory
  • Methods
  • Mini Review
  • Opinion

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Keywords: Robotic Psychology, Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), Human-Robot collaboration, Industry 5.0, Trust, Communication

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