Beyond the Uncanny Valley: A Mixed-Method Investigation of Anthropomorphism in Protective Responses to Robot Abuse

TL;DR

This study investigates how anthropomorphism influences protective responses to robot abuse by extending CASA and the uncanny valley into a moral domain. Using a mixed-methods design with 201 participants viewing abuse videos of three morphologies (Spider, Two-Foot, Unitree), the authors triangulate self-report, physiological, and qualitative data. They find that protection is not diminished by uncanny perceptions; rather, near-human appearance (Two-Foot) amplifies physiological anger and elevates moral consideration, while governance views shift from property-centric to society- and rights-oriented frameworks as anthropomorphism rises. The findings have practical implications for robot design, policy-making, and potential legal frameworks around robot protection and rights in contexts with high abuse risk.

Abstract

Robots with anthropomorphic features are increasingly shaping how humans perceive and morally engage with them. Our research investigates how different levels of anthropomorphism influence protective responses to robot abuse, extending the Computers as Social Actors (CASA) and uncanny valley theories into a moral domain. In an experiment, we invite 201 participants to view videos depicting abuse toward a robot with low (Spider), moderate (Two-Foot), or high (Humanoid) anthropomorphism. To provide a comprehensive analysis, we triangulate three modalities: self-report surveys measuring emotions and uncanniness, physiological data from automated facial expression analysis, and qualitative reflections. Findings indicate that protective responses are not linear. The moderately anthropomorphic Two-Foot robot, rated highest in eeriness and "spine-tingling" sensations consistent with the uncanny valley, elicited the strongest physiological anger expressions. Self-reported anger and guilt are significantly higher for both the Two-Foot and Humanoid robots compared to the Spider. Qualitative findings further reveal that as anthropomorphism increases, moral reasoning shifts from technical assessments of property damage to condemnation of the abuser's character, while governance proposals expand from property law to calls for quasi-animal rights and broader societal responsibility. These results suggest that the uncanny valley does not dampen moral concern but paradoxically heightens protective impulses, offering critical implications for robot design, policy, and future legal frameworks.

Figures (3)

• Figure 1: The illustrated framework for the implementation of our research.
• Figure 2: Multi-measure comparison of perceptions on the three robot types.
• Figure 3: Comparison of emotional responses to the three robot types.