Algorithmic anthropomorphism and AI moral standing

The moderating role of mortality salience

Dados Bibliográficos

ID12097697
AutoresQing Xie (0000-0003-1834-4912, College of Education for the Future, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai), Jing Lin (0000-0003-4854-6769, Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education (Beijing Normal University), Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University), Yue Ding (0000-0002-4478-1262, Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education (Beijing Normal University), Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University), Yu Kou (0000-0002-1668-7033, Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education (Beijing Normal University), Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, autor correspondente)
Ano2025
Páginas1-9
Data de publicação2025-07-07
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoDeath Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0748-1187 • E-ISSN: 1091-7683
EditoraTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/07481187.2025.2529275
PMID40622859
OpenAlexW4412083879
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas40

Previous studies indicate that AI's appearance enhances its moral standing, but the role of algorithmic anthropomorphism (how it talks) remains unknown. According to Terror Management Theory, human moral concern toward AI is not always immutable and may be shaped by the presence of mortality salience. We investigated the effect of algorithmic anthropomorphism on AI moral standing, as well as the moderating role of mortality salience, through two experiments. Chinese college students answered questions online regarding functional AI and social AI. Algorithmic anthropomorphism significantly promoted the moral standing of both functional AI and social AI. Mortality salience played differentiated moderating roles, reversing the positive impact of algorithmic anthropomorphism on functional AI moral standing and enhancing it on social AI moral standing. The findings expand the research on AI ethics and Terror Management Theory, contributing to a better understanding of AI moral standing and mortality reminders

Cognitive psychology · Developmental psychology · Mortality salience · Salience (neuroscience · Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Psychology · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment · Social Psychology