Robot Shift from Industrial Production to Social Reproduction

This chapter analyses people’s attitudes towards the use of robots in the different domains of life and, specifically, in the domain of social reproduction. The analysis is based on Eurobarometer 382 “Public Attitudes towards Robots” data (N = 26,751), which was carried out among EU citizens aged 15 and over in 27 member states in 2012. The results of the study show that on average European perceptions of robots are positive and permissive. The life domains in which robots have already been used for a long time (e.g. space exploration, manufacturing, military and security business, search and rescue work) turn out to be the most popular areas for the further penetration of robots. The least preferred life domains are those, which address the core functions of social reproduction (e.g. care of children, elderly people and the disabled, education, leisure). With a series of ordinal logistic regression analyses, we outline the socio-demographic factors that are associated with the willingness to have more robots in the various fields of social production. Pensioner’s supportive attitude towards the use of robots in health care and educational activities is highlighted.

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