DO INFANTS PREDICT REWARD DISTRIBUTION TO ROBOTS?
2023 Volume 65 Issue 2 Pages 160-169
Details
2023 Volume 65 Issue 2 Pages 160-169
Infants, even before the age of two, believe that rewards should be distributed according to an agent’s workload. However, it is difficult to understand how infants attribute these differences in workload. This study aims to clarify whether infants expect rewards to be similarly distributed to a robot as to a human. In the present study, 21-month-old infants (n = 18) were presented with the following situations: 1) two humans performed similar tasks and received the same reward; 2) a human and robot performed similar tasks and received the same reward. Subsequently, their gazing durations were compared. The results showed a significant increase in gazing time when the robot received rewards. This suggests that 21-month-olds predicted that rewards would not be distributed to the robot. Finally, based on the findings, the psychological challenges of living with a robot are discussed.
