Welcome to the homepage of our research group "Gender and Emotion in Cognitive Interaction"

Which characteristics should be embedded in robots so that humans accept them as partners in social interactions?

Do we have gender-stereotyped expectations toward robots and their functions?

Does anthropomorphism lead to more efficient human-machine interaction? 

The research group "Gender and Emotion in Cognitive Interaction" investigates aspects of human-machine interaction (HMI) from a socialpsychological viewpoint applying experimental methods. In one of our lines of research we focus on emotions and gender stereotypes and their role in human-machine interaction.

Our second main research area concerns the reception and elaboration of information presented by robots or virtual agents. For example, we are interested in the effects of a robot's or an agent’s mimic and gesture on information processing.

Our third main area of research investigates factors that influence the extent to which robots and virtual agents are anthropomorphized (e.g. voice, facial expression, gender, or emotion display). From a socialpsychological perspective, anthropomorphism means the attribution of human-like characteristics and capabilities to robots and virtual agents.

With our research we contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the anthropomorphism of machines. Our work therefore helps to identify factors that are crucial for improving the acceptance of machines and the quality of HMI. At the same time our research on HMI enables us to draw conclusions on processes of de- and infra-humanization of human social groups.

Research projects

• Robot's display of emotions and its influence on anthropomorphism
• Influence of gender stereotypes on human-machine- and human-human-interaction
• Mimic, gesture and affect of virtual agents and their influence on communication and human learning performance
• The influence of anthropomorphism on human-machine-interaction
• Persuasion by virtual agents
• Interindividual differences in anthropomorphism
• The influence of ingroup-favouritism on anthropomorphism
• The role of psychological closeness and empathy on de- and infra-humanization
• The effect of imagined intergroup contact on empathy, infra-humanization and intergroup attitudes