Perceptions of Agency in Human-robot Interactions

Robots are no longer only in outer space, in factory cages, or in our imaginations. We interact with robotic agents when withdrawing cash from ATMs, driving cars with anti-lock brakes, and tuning our thermostats. In the moment of those interactions with robotic agents, we behave in ways that do not necessarily align with the rational belief that robots are just plain machines. Through a combination of controlled experiments and field studies, we will examine the ways that people make sense of robotic agents, including (1) how people interact with personal robots and (2) how people interact through telepresence robots. These observations and experiments raise questions about the psychology of human-agent interaction, particularly about issues of perceived agency and the incorporation of technologies into one's sense of self.