Skip to content
BY-NC-ND 4.0 license Open Access Published by De Gruyter Open Access November 8, 2018

Jealousy 4.0? An empirical study on jealousy-related discomfort of women evoked by other women and gynoid robots

  • Jessica M. Szczuka EMAIL logo and Nicole C. Krämer

Abstract

While first empirical studies on sexual aspects of human-robot interaction mostly focus on male users’ acceptance, there is no empirical research on how females react to robotic replications of women. To empirically investigate whether robots can evoke the same kind of jealousy-related discomfort as do other women, we conducted an online study in which 848 heterosexual female participants from Germany reacted to the idea that their partner had sexual intercourse with either another woman, a human-like female-looking robot, or a machinelike female-looking robot. The results revealed dimensions in which the jealousy-related discomfort was higher for female competitors compared to the robotic ones (e.g., discomfort caused by the idea of sexual intercourse),whereas in others the robots evoked the same or higher levels of jealousy-related discomfort (e.g., discomfort caused by feelings of inadequacy, discomfort caused by shared emotional and time resources). The variance in the discomfort regarding sexual interactions between one’s partner and robotic competitors could not be explained by personal characteristics (such as self-esteem, subjective physical attractiveness) but rather by technology-related variables (e.g., negative attitude towards robots, a tendency towards anthropomorphism) and the attitude towards sexual nonexclusivity in relationships. The study provides first empirical insights into a question which is of relevance for a responsible handling of sexualized technologies.

References

[1] Y. Bar-Cohen, D. T. Hanson, The coming robot revolution: Expectations and fears about emerging intelligent, humanlikemachines, Springer, 2009Search in Google Scholar

[2] Realbotix, https://realbotix.com/HarmonySearch in Google Scholar

[3] M. Reisz, The sexbots are coming - Scholars reflect on ethics and mechanics of a possible ‘sex tech’ future, Times Higher Education, 23 December 2016, https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/sexbots-are-comingSearch in Google Scholar

[4] D. Levy, Love & sex with robots: The evolution of human-robot relationships, HarperCollins, 2007Search in Google Scholar

[5] K. Richardson, The asymmetrical ’relationship’: parallels between prostitution and the development of sex robots, ACM SIGCAS Computers and Society, 2016, 45(3), 290-293, https: //doi.org/10.1145/2874239.287428110.1145/2874239.2874281Search in Google Scholar

[6] N. Sharkey, A. van Wynsberghe, S. Robbins, E. Hancock, Foundation for responsible robotics report: Our sexual future with robots, https://responsiblerobotics.org/2017/07/05/frrreport-our-sexual-future-with-robots/Search in Google Scholar

[7] M. Scheutz, T. Arnold, Are we ready for sex robots?, HRI’16: The Eleventh ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human Robot Interaction (2016, Christchurch, New Zealand), IEEE, 2016, 351- 358, https://doi.org/10.1109%2Fhri.2016.7451772Search in Google Scholar

[8] K. Richardson, Policy report: Sex dolls and sex robots - A serious problem for women, men & society, https: //campaignagainstsexrobots.org/2018/05/08/policy-reportsex- dolls-and-sex-robots-a-serious-problem-for-womenmen- society/Search in Google Scholar

[9] J. Szczuka, N. Krämer, Not only the lonely - How men explicitly and implicitly evaluate the attractiveness of sex robots in comparison to the attractiveness of women, and personal characteristics influencing this evaluation, Multimodal Technologies Interaction/ Special Issue Love and Sex with Robots, 2017, 1(1), https://doi.org/10.3390/mti101000310.3390/mti1010003Search in Google Scholar

[10] O. Bendel, Sex robots from the perspective of machine ethics, In: A. D. Cheok, K. Devlin, D. Levy (Eds.), Love and Sex with robots: Second International Conference 2016, Springer, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57738-8_210.1007/978-3-319-57738-8_2Search in Google Scholar

[11] R. A. Søraa, Mechanical genders: How do humans gender robots?, Gender, Technology and Development, 2017, 21, 99- 115, https://doi.org/10.1080/09718524.2017.138532010.1080/09718524.2017.1385320Search in Google Scholar

[12] D. Haraway, A manifesto for cyborgs: Science, technology, and socialist feminism in the 1980s, In: L. Nicholson (Ed.), Feminism/ Postmodernism, Taylor and Francis, 2013Search in Google Scholar

[13] J. Robertson, Gendering humanoid robots: Robo-sexism in Japan, Body & Society, 2010, 16(2), 1-36, https://doi.org/10.1177/1357034x1036476710.1177/1357034x10364767Search in Google Scholar

[14] S. Alesich, M. Rigby, Gendered robots: Implications for our humanoid future, IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, 2017, 36(2), 50-59, https://doi.org/10.1109/mts.2017.269659810.1109/MTS.2017.2696598Search in Google Scholar

[15] J. Fink, Anthropomorphism and human likeness in the design of robots and human-robot interaction, In: S. S. Ge, O. Khatib, J.-J. Cabibihan, R. Simmons, M.-A. Williams (Eds.), Social robotics: 4th International Conference, ICSR 2012, Chengdu, China, 2012, Springer, 2012, 199-208, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-34103-8_2010.1007/978-3-642-34103-8_20Search in Google Scholar

[16] C. Bartneck, M. McMullen, Interacting with anatomically complete robots, In: T. Kanda, S. ˆSabanović, G. Hoffman, A. Tapus (Eds.), HRI’18: Companion of the 2018 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human Robot Interaction, 2018, Chicago, Association for Computing Machinery, 2018Search in Google Scholar

[17] R. A. Elphinston, P. Noller, Time to face it! Facebook intrusion and the implications for romantic jealousy and relationship satisfaction, Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 2011, 14(11), 631-635, https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2010.031810.1089/cyber.2010.0318Search in Google Scholar PubMed

[18] G. L. White, P. E.Mullen, Jealousy: Theory, research, and clinical strategies, Guilford Press, 1989Search in Google Scholar

[19] A. Weiss, J. Igelsböck, D. Wurhofer, M. Tscheligi, Looking forward to a “robotic society”?, International Journal of Social Robotics, 2011, 3(2), 111-123, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12369-010-0076-510.1007/s12369-010-0076-5Search in Google Scholar

[20] J. Rosén, K. Richardson, J. Lindblom, E. Billing, The robot illusion: facts and fiction, In: Proceedings of Workshop in Explainable Robotics System (HRI), 2018Search in Google Scholar

[21] L. Festinger, A theory of social comparison processes, Human Relations, 1954, 7(2), 117-140, https://doi.org/10.1177/00187267540070020210.1177/001872675400700202Search in Google Scholar

[22] P. Dijkstra, B. P. Buunk, Sex differences in the jealousy-evoking nature of a rival’s body build, Evolution and Human Behavior, 2001, 22(5), 335-341, https://doi.org/10.1016/s1090-5138(01)00070-810.1016/s1090-5138(01)00070-8Search in Google Scholar

[23] M. G. F. Worthen, Sexual deviance and society: A sociological approach, Routledge, 201610.4324/9781315744858Search in Google Scholar

[24] C. Bartneck, T. Bleeker, J. Bun, P. Fens, L. Riet, The influence of robot anthropomorphism on the feelings of embarrassment when interacting with robots, Paladyn, Journal of Behavioral Robotics, 2010, 1(2), 109-115, https://doi.org/10.2478/s13230-010-0011-310.2478/s13230-010-0011-3Search in Google Scholar

[25] D. M. Buss, Sexual jealousy, Psychological Topics, 2013, 22, 155-182Search in Google Scholar

[26] D. M. Buss, Evolutionary psychology: The new science of the mind, 5th ed., Routledge, 1999Search in Google Scholar

[27] D. M. Buss, R. J. Larsen, D. Westen, J. Semmelroth, Sex differences in jealousy: Evolution, Physiology, and Psychology, Psychological Science, 1998, 3(4), 251-256, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.1992.tb00038.x10.1111/j.1467-9280.1992.tb00038.xSearch in Google Scholar

[28] S. L. Franzoi, K. Vasquez, E. Sparapani, K. Frost, J. Martin, M. Aebly, Exploring body comparison tendencies, Psychology of Women Quarterly, 2011, 36(1), 99-109, https://doi.org/10.1177/036168431142702810.1177/0361684311427028Search in Google Scholar

[29] B. S. Marcus, Changes in a woman’s sexual experience and expectations following the introduction of electric vibrator assistance, The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2011, 8(12), 3398-3406, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.02132.x10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.02132.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

[30] B. Fahs, E. Swank, Adventures with the “PlasticMan”: Sex toys, compulsory heterosexuality, and the politics of women’s sexual pleasure, Sexuality & Culture, 2013, 17(4), 666-685, https: //doi.org/10.1007/s12119-013-9167-410.1007/s12119-013-9167-4Search in Google Scholar

[31] D. Herbenick, M. Reece, V. Schick, K. N. Jozkowski, S. E. Middelstadt, S. A. Sanders, et al., Beliefs about women’s vibrator use: Results from a nationally representative probability survey in the United States, Journal of sex & marital therapy, 2011, 37(5), 329-345, https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623x.2011.60674510.1080/0092623X.2011.606745Search in Google Scholar PubMed

[32] H. Leitenberg, K. Henning, Sexual fantasy, Psychological Bulletin, 1995, 117(3), 469-496, https://doi.org/10.1037//0033-2909.117.3.46910.1037/0033-2909.117.3.469Search in Google Scholar

[33] T. Nomura, T. Suzuki, T. Kanda, K. Kato, Measurement of negative attitudes toward robots, Interaction Studies: Social Behaviour and Communication in Biological and Artificial Systems, 2006, 7(3), 437-454, http://dx.doi.org/10.1075/is.7.3.14nom10.1075/is.7.3.14nomSearch in Google Scholar

[34] N. Döring, J. Bortz, Forschungsmethoden und Evaluation in den Sozialund Humanwissenschaften [Research methods and evaluation in social science and humanities], Springer, 201610.1007/978-3-642-41089-5Search in Google Scholar

[35] K. Backhaus, B. Erichson, W. Plinke, R. Weiber, Multivariate Analysemethoden [Multivariate analysis methods], Springer, 201610.1007/978-3-662-46076-4Search in Google Scholar

[36] M. Rosenberg, Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSE), Acceptance and commitment therapy, Measures package, 1965, 52, https: //doi.org/10.1037/t01038-00010.1037/t01038-000Search in Google Scholar

[37] J. Stiller, S. Würth, D. Alfermann, Die Messung des physischen Selbstkonzepts (PSK) [Measurement of the self-concept], Zeitschrift für Differentielle und Diagnostische Psychologie, 2004, 25(4), 239-257, https://doi.org/10.1024/0170-1789.25.4.23910.1024/0170-1789.25.4.239Search in Google Scholar

[38] B. A. Boekhout, Relationship exclusivity and extrarelationship involvement: Perceptions, determinants and consequences, PhD thesis, Texas Tech University, USA, 2000Search in Google Scholar

[39] N. Neave, R. Jackson, T. Saxton, J. Hönekopp, The influence of anthropomorphic tendencies on human hoarding behaviours, Personality and Individual Differences, 2015, 72, 214-219, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2014.08.04110.1016/j.paid.2014.08.041Search in Google Scholar

[40] Ex Machina, 2014, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470752/Search in Google Scholar

[41] Westworld, 2016, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475784/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1Search in Google Scholar

[42] J. Daniels, Rethinking Cyberfeminism(s): Race, gender, and embodiment, WSQ: Women’s studies quarterly, 2009, 37(1-2), 101- 124, https://doi.org/10.1353/wsq.0.015810.1353/wsq.0.0158Search in Google Scholar

[43] S. Paasonen, Revisiting cyberfeminism, Communications, 2011, 36(3), 335-352, https://doi.org/10.1515/comm.2011.01710.1515/comm.2011.017Search in Google Scholar

[44] S. Paasonen, The woman question: Addressing women as internet users, In: M. Fernandez, F. Wilding, M. M. Wright (Eds.), Domain errors! Cyberfeminist practices, Autonomedia; Pluto, 2002Search in Google Scholar

[45] R. Murphy, D. D. Woods, Beyond Asimov: The three laws of responsible robotics, IEEE Intelligent Systems, 2009, 24(4), 14- 20, https://doi.org/10.1109/mis.2009.6910.1109/mis.2009.69Search in Google Scholar

[46] R. Clarke, Asimov’s laws of robotics: Implications for information technology, In: M. Anderson, S. L. Anderson (Eds.),Machine Ethics, Cambridge University Press, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511978036.02010.1017/CBO9780511978036.020Search in Google Scholar

[47] J. Gips, Towards the ethical robot, In: M. Anderson, S. L. Anderson (Eds.), Machine ethics, Cambridge University Press, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511978036.01910.1017/cbo9780511978036.019Search in Google Scholar

[48] J. Wright, The iPhone-controlled sex toy you can turn on from anywhere, The New York Post, 12 October 2014, https://nypost.com/2014/10/12/more-couples-are-tryingappcontrolled-sex-toys/Search in Google Scholar

[49] A. Krueger, Virtual reality gets naughty, The New York Times, 28 October 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/28/style/virtual-reality-porn.htmlSearch in Google Scholar

[50] Blade Runner, 1982, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/?ref_=nv_sr_2Search in Google Scholar

[51] K. F. MacDorman, S. K. Vasudevan, C.-C. Ho, Does Japan really have robot mania? Comparing attitudes by implicit and explicit measures, AI & Soc, 2009, 23(4), 485-510, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-008-0181-210.1007/s00146-008-0181-2Search in Google Scholar

[52] K. S. Haring, C. Mougenot, F. Ono, K. Watanabe, Cultural differences in perception and attitude towards robots, International Journal of Affective Engineering, 2014, 13(3), 149-157, https: //doi.org/10.5057/ijae.13.14910.5057/ijae.13.149Search in Google Scholar

[53] E. D.Widmer, J. Treas, R. Newcomb, Attitudes toward nonmarital sex in 24 countries, Journal of Sex Research, 1998, 35(4), 349- 358, https://doi.org/10.1080/0022449980955195310.1080/00224499809551953Search in Google Scholar

[54] B. P. Buunk, A. Angleitner, V. Oubaid, D. M. Buss, Sex differences in jealousy in evolutionary and cultural perspective: tests from the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States, Psychological Science, 1996, 7(6), 359-363, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.1996.tb00389.x .10.1111/j.1467-9280.1996.tb00389.xSearch in Google Scholar

Received: 2018-02-28
Accepted: 2018-09-21
Published Online: 2018-11-08
Published in Print: 2018-10-01

© by Jessica M. Szczuka, Nicole C. Krämer, published by De Gruyter

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Downloaded on 19.3.2024 from https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/pjbr-2018-0023/html
Scroll to top button