Name: Why we're more honest with machines than people
Uploaded: 2021-06-29T15:10:26Z
Duration: 11 min 3 s
Description: For a genuine conversation, consider talking to a robot; the less humanized, the better. Consumer researcher Anne Scherer shares her findings on why some machines get us to open up better than actual people, revealing fascinating insights about human nature that could lead to more honest interactions in our day-to-day lives.

For a genuine conversation, consider talking to a robot; the less humanized, the better. Consumer researcher Anne Scherer shares her findings on why some machines get us to open up better than actual people, revealing fascinating insights about human nature that could lead to more honest interactions in our day-to-day lives.

Why we're more honest with machines than people

People tend to hide their true selves in social situations, fearing judgment and chasing approval. When soldiers returning from combat spoke to digital avatars, they reported more health problems than with human interviewers, revealing how technology can bypass social barriers. Humanlike bots trigger the same worries about judgment as real people, while simpler machines invite greater openness. Letting machines be just machines can encourage genuine sharing in a perfection-obsessed world.