Brigitte's Research

Thesis

Investigating Human Beings’ Experience with Artificial Intelligent Social Robots and/or Digital Avatars in an Interactional Context; What Is Happening and How It Informs the Future

To date, research conducted in human-robot interaction has primarily focused on how to make robots more appealing and comfortable for humans to interact with (Dautenhahn, 2007; Sciutti et al., 2018). An area that has received less attention is research into humans’ experiences when interacting with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) social robot and/or digital avatar. Utilising Charmaz’ (2003, 2006, 2014) constructivist grounded theory methodology, this study investigated how human beings experienced AI social robots and/ or digital avatars in an interactional context. In particular, the research explored the affective dimensions of these interactions, including ways of relating and connection. In addition, the research considered the potential impact on human beings applying this technology in various fields of human communication.

A major finding of the study shows that human beings interacting with an AI social robot and/or digital avatar can, when immersed in a conversational flow state, develop unconscious feelings towards these AI social systems, as if they are real people. In other words, an ‘Other’ was constructed by the human end-user. This experience can feel as real as human-to-human interaction. A key insight that emerged is that human beings can feel a deep-seated need to connect to others which, by being in the moment, is not consciously apprehended until after the fact. When these types of humanlike interactions occur, a trust develops towards this type of AI social system, leading to a strong sense of the AI robot and/or avatar ‘as if’ it was a real person. The research contributes to a deeper understanding of the processes underlying human interaction with AI social systems, such as AI social robots and/or digital avatars. The findings can assist technologists in their efforts to develop and market their products ethically; and direct their efforts towards beneficial uses rather than those which exploit humans. In addition, the findings may be useful for human end-users and third parties developing greater awareness of the impacts of such technology on human beings.

Permanent link: http://hdl.handle.net/10292/17808

Dissertation

Exploring the Impact of Millennials’ Use of Social Media on Their Attachment Experiences, and Its Possible Implications for Psychotherapy - a Thematic Analysis

Attachment is an innate human need which is initially met from secure attachment relationships between children and parents/caregivers, and also their community relationships. Where parents buffer or gate-keep the outside world and provide a secure base for their children to be creative and play – a transitional space. This dissertation was an interpretivist study, employing the qualitative method of thematic analysis, with the intention of providing further understanding about the impact of the Millennial generation’s attachment experiences in relation to their digital social media use. Additionally, what implications this might have in the psychotherapeutic clinical situation (especially with older generation therapists), as well as in the broader societal context.

This study concentrated on those limited literature sources that considered the actual accounts and first-hand attachment experiences and social media use of the Millennial generation, and where the thematic analysis identified the central theme of ‘Attachment Experiences’ interlinked with the themes of Parenting, Millennial Generation, Technology, and Psychotherapeutic Reflections. The discussion of the findings highlighted that Millennials, who have had secure attachments, appear to use social media as a tool that supports and strengthens their ‘offline’ attachments in a healthy and creative cyclic flow. Whereas, insecure attachments appear to be more linear, where attachment hunger results in these Millennials using social media in an effort to feel ‘attachment-satiated’, yet the empty calories of online relating leave them wanting and unfulfilled. The study identified Millennial attachment styles and changes in possible ways to consider what this might mean for future generations, the way attachment needs are met, and what this might mean for the psychotherapeutic process (both in theory and practice).

Permanent link: https://hdl.handle.net/10292/10634

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