{"title":"Enhancing or impeding? Exploring the dual impact of anthropomorphism in large language models on user aggression","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.tele.2024.102194","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores the impact of anthropomorphism in large language models (LLMs) on user aggression through the lens of dehumanization theory. Specifically, it analyzes how chatbots’ human nature and human uniqueness traits influence user aggression by triggering perceived identity threats. Drawing on an online survey of 1000 LLM chatbot users in China and employing structural equation modeling, the research reveals that chatbots perceived as competent and rational tend to reduce user aggression by alleviating identity threats. In contrast, chatbots exhibiting empathetic and moral traits are more likely to heighten identity threats, thereby increasing aggression. The study further demonstrates that perceived economic value mitigates the negative impact of identity threats, while perceived emotional value exacerbates it. These findings highlight the critical need for AI designs that not only enhance user interaction but also carefully manage the potential for eliciting adverse behaviors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48257,"journal":{"name":"Telematics and Informatics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":7.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Telematics and Informatics","FirstCategoryId":"91","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0736585324000984","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"INFORMATION SCIENCE & LIBRARY SCIENCE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This study explores the impact of anthropomorphism in large language models (LLMs) on user aggression through the lens of dehumanization theory. Specifically, it analyzes how chatbots’ human nature and human uniqueness traits influence user aggression by triggering perceived identity threats. Drawing on an online survey of 1000 LLM chatbot users in China and employing structural equation modeling, the research reveals that chatbots perceived as competent and rational tend to reduce user aggression by alleviating identity threats. In contrast, chatbots exhibiting empathetic and moral traits are more likely to heighten identity threats, thereby increasing aggression. The study further demonstrates that perceived economic value mitigates the negative impact of identity threats, while perceived emotional value exacerbates it. These findings highlight the critical need for AI designs that not only enhance user interaction but also carefully manage the potential for eliciting adverse behaviors.
期刊介绍:
Telematics and Informatics is an interdisciplinary journal that publishes cutting-edge theoretical and methodological research exploring the social, economic, geographic, political, and cultural impacts of digital technologies. It covers various application areas, such as smart cities, sensors, information fusion, digital society, IoT, cyber-physical technologies, privacy, knowledge management, distributed work, emergency response, mobile communications, health informatics, social media's psychosocial effects, ICT for sustainable development, blockchain, e-commerce, and e-government.