In this paper, we propose “sociological robotics,” which uses sociological observations and methods for the coexistence of humans, robots, and AI. We have presented two methods and examples of the practice of sociological robotics. Method 1) Create a design principle for a robot based on sociological findings from observing natural human interactions in everyday situations, then design a robot based on this design principle and evaluate the human-robot interactions on this basis. Method 2) Conduct stepwise experiments with a robot/robots in everyday situations, analyze the human–robot interactions, make improvements, and evaluate them.

The discomfort people feel toward judgment and governance by AI is examined in this paper. Firstly, a review is conducted concerning existing discussions in law and philosophy, which highlight concerns about the dangers of reducing individuals to bundles of attributes and processing them probabilistically, as well as the unease stemming from the way AI recommendations and decisions contribute to the construction of the self. However, such phenomena can also occur when the decision-maker is human. An additional issue that arises in the case of AI is its lack of vulnerability. Because AI cannot be harmed, it becomes difficult to conceptualize the attribution of responsibility. This phenomenon may underlie the discomfort people experience toward AI.

There are two types of symbiosis between different species (or between different genes): mutualistic symbiosis, in which both parties benefit, and parasitic symbiosis, in which only one party benefits. Similarly, there can be both mutually beneficial and unidirectional relationships of symbiosis between technology and humans (or between technology’s memes and human genes). Usually, technology is widely used in society because it brings benefits to humans, but there are some technologies that are widely used without contributing to the survival, reproduction, happiness or prosperity of the humans who use them. Such relationships can be called “parasitism” of humans by technology. Parasitic technology takes advantage of the vulnerabilities of human physiology and psychology to make people dependent on that technology. In this paper, we will consider the relationship between technology and humans from the perspectives of “symbiosis” and “parasitism,” and explore how artificial intelligence can parasitize humans.

The relationship between changing social norms regarding human relationships in and the dynamics of inclusion/exclusion based on diversity in contemporary society are explored in this study. This was performed by analyzing newspaper reports of homicides due to isolation/loneliness. The analysis revealed that since the late 2000s, the isolation/loneliness of economically disadvantaged men has emerged as a major problem, and there is an inclusive norm that society should support to eliminate this isolation/loneliness. However, the extent to which society embraces this inclusive norm is subject to interpretation. In addition, as inclusive norms strengthen, societal resistance to economically disadvantaged men’s refusal of support is expected to increase, suggesting incompatibility between inclusive norms and freedom of isolation/loneliness among economically disadvantaged men.

Social norms on prejudice toward immigrants in Japan are explored in this article by analyzing public opinion survey data using two different methods. Norms on prejudice differ between societies and groups. When negative views toward a certain outgroup are seen as acceptable in society or a group, its members do not hide these views. Existing studies have suggested that Japanese people perceive negative views toward immigrants not simply as acceptable but “desirable.” However, these studies use as their sample registered monitors of a survey company, who are biased from the general population in many aspects. Thus, we attempt to judge whether we can generalize this result by analyzing nationally representative survey data. We found that the respondents in a face-to-face survey showed less prejudice toward immigrants than those in a mail survey. Furthermore, this suppression can be seen among those with higher education and taking a centrist position in political ideology but not among those without higher education and on the political right. Our results show that social norms on prejudice are divided in Japanese society.

This paper is a response to the question posed at the 72nd Kanto Sociological Society Conference, Theme Session B, held on June 16, 2024: “How do we capture ‘change’ in ‘social norms’? Inclusion and exclusion regarding diversity.” It is a substantial revision of the presentation delivered during the session, with the aim of expanding on points that were not fully explored in the original discussion. The core focus of this paper is to explore sociological methods for describing the transformation of lesbian social movements in Japan. It examines the practices of language use and the power dynamics that organize these practices. While engaging with the session’s discussion of “norm change,” the paper’s primary objective is to propose methods for analyzing these transformations. It begins with an overview of relevant methods and analytical perspectives, followed by a case study analyzing a manifesto published by a specific lesbian group.

In this study, the relationship between identity reconstruction and belief in a Higher Power among eight Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) members was investigated using semi-structured interviews and narrative analysis. The findings revealed three types of perceptions of a Higher Power among AA members: an Awakening Type, a Follower Type, and a Re-evaluation Type. The results also indicated that interactions among the three types mentioned above and a sense of belonging to the AA-organization play crucial roles in the formation of new identities. It is suggested by this study that the reconstructed personal identities formed through AA, combined with the three types of perceptions, lead to evaluations that surpass the types. The findings emphasize the importance of the connection between belief in a Higher Power within the AA framework and identity reconstruction in the recovery process of the alcoholics.

In prior research on urban commercial space, the potential of shoppers to influence shopping districts has not been well examined. How some teenagers danced in the Harajuku Pedestrian Zone is explored in this paper. Previous studies have centered on the commercial fashion industry or the consumerist structure which stirred shoppers to compete regarding elegance. These perspectives, however, cannot explain how the street dance started. How did the youngsters choose to dance there and how did their activities impact the shopping district? The focus of this paper is on the action of dancing and clarifies the kind of autonomy that was implemented through it. The teenagers’ dancing was a unique tactic to draw passersby attention while avoiding spending money at cafes and boutiques. Their action eventually loosened the competitive consumerist norm in Harajuku and created an urban space for performers who were not necessarily very sophisticated.

Attitudinal shifts among contemporary online practitioners of sexual abstinence in Japan are examined in this paper. Prior research in English-speaking contexts describes a shift from treating personal pathologies to pursuing ideals of masculinity; however, this framework lacks validity in explaining the Japanese context. Here, we adopt an analytical approach combining (1) the “devotion” model, which focuses on transformations of one’s body, lifestyle, and interpretive framework toward self-management, and (2) the “conversion” framework from the sociology of religion, emphasizing situational and background factors shaping practitioners’ social circumstances. Analyzing 51 “ona-kin” bloggers in Japan, we identify six stages of devotion: (1) vague aspirations for improvement in physical and mental well-being, (2) framing one’s physical state in terms of addiction, (3) structured self-improvement goals, (4) a pathway to self-transformation inspired by Napoleon Hill’s theory on governing sexual desire, (5) altruistic motivations for social contribution, and (6) a quest for mystical connection. While partially aligning with prior English-speaking research, our findings suggest that practitioners did not initially aim for therapeutic outcomes, particularly the shift from treatment to masculinity. Additionally, background factors, such as successive tensions and situational factors such as unique ties fostered by ona-kin blog networks, appear to support the process of devotion.

Previous studies have suggested that if people have dream-pursuing aspirations, which many people have but are difficult to attain, they are more likely to remain in unstable employment, such as part-time work. However, how dream-pursuing aspirations relate to labor market outcomes such as income and employment status has not been examined. The results of the analysis using the SSJDA Panel show that both men and women who had dream-pursuing aspirations during their third year of high school tend to be in non-regular employment in their first job. However, for both men and women, having had dream-pursuing aspirations does not statistically relate to the likelihood of being in current non-regular employment or current low income. These results suggest that we should not emphasize the disadvantages of ‘dream pursuing’ and that it is necessary to discuss the consequences of ‘dream pursuing’ based on quantitative evidence.