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Self-disclosure to humans vs. robots
Jenkins, Elijah
Jenkins, Elijah
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2026
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Poster
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Jenkins, E. & Abubshait, A. Self-disclosure to humans vs. robots. -- FYRE in STEM Showcase, 2026.
Abstract
Humans in therapeutic settings often engage in self-disclosing behavior, which is the propensity to share information about oneself with the therapist or an interviewer. Research has shown that engaging in self-disclosure can benefit people but can be hindered by a person’s anticipated feelings of shame that accompany disclosing private personal information. Many solutions have been proposed to ensure that people self-disclose more. For example, some researchers believe that the use of robots can encourage self-disclosing behavior, as robots have the capability of mimicking interviewer/therapist behaviors without the capability of judging, and therefore eliciting feelings of shame in the self-discloser. The current study aimed to investigate whether humans are more willing to engage in self-disclosing behaviors when they interact with a human vs. a robot. Moreover, we tested whether the knowledge of who has access to the information that was shared had an effect on participants’ behaviors. To do so, participants responded to interviewer questions about who was either a human or a robot. After the interview, their responses were given to an AI or a human professional. In reality, all their responses were read by the researchers only. After the interview, participants completed a survey about their perceived self-disclosure. We hypothesized that participants would be more willing to self-disclose to robot avatars and in situations where they believed their responses would not be viewed by humans. The results of the study are currently being analyzed and will be presented in the symposium.
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Description
Poster and abstract presented at the FYRE in STEM Showcase, 2026.
Research project completed at the Department of Psychology, Wichita State University.
Research project completed at the Department of Psychology, Wichita State University.
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Wichita State University
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FYRE in STEM 2026