Anthropomorphizing and Trusting Social Robots

The chapter explores the challenges posed by the proliferation of robots in society, particularly humanoid robots, focusing on cognitive constraints, ergonomic concerns, cross-cultural issues and the emergence of an artificial morality in human–robot interactions. It also delves into the distinctions between physical and intentional trust, highlighting the role of deference, both biologically grounded and epistemic, in human–robot relationships. The concept of selective deference is introduced as a means of navigating interactions with robots, emphasizing the importance of balancing trust and deference based on the context and the technology involved. Overall, the analysis underscores the need for a nuanced understanding of trust and deference in the evolving landscape of human–robot interactions.