Does Anthropomorphism Reduce Stress in HRI?

In an experiment, we tested whether anthropomorphism would reduce psychological stress associated with human–robot interactions (HRI). Participants anticipated (vs. did not anticipate) an interaction with a humanlike versus machinelike robot type, and their electrodermal activity (EDA), a physiological indicator of psychological stress, was measured. Results indicate that anticipating an HRI increased psychological stress independent of robot type. Categories and Subject Descriptors J.4 [Social and Behavioral Sciences]: psychology. General Terms Measurement, design, experimentation, human factors