Abstract:

Robots have been playing an increasingly important role in manufacturing, children’s education, elderly companionship, and the digital economy. However, robots are not always approved and accepted by every individual, and a considerable number of people are concerned about the influences of the wide application of robots. According to role theory, individuals’ cognition of robots’ roles should be an important explanation. The related literature was systematically searched and analyzed. It was found that, for the roles of robots, individuals may construct a robot as a tool or a partner, which will result in different trust modes for robots and affect individuals’ attitudes and behavioral tendencies toward robots. This explanation can help improve the understanding of human-robot interaction and the development of the robot industry. Future studies should investigate the models of human-robot interactions, the origins and influences of robots’ roles, the influences of robots’ roles on socialization, and the ethical dilemmas caused by robots.

Key words: robots, human-robot interaction, roles of robots, trust modes, role theory