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Humanoid versus non-humanoid robots: How mortality salience shapes preference for robot services under the COVID-19 pandemic?

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  • Liu, Xing (Stella)
  • Wan, Lisa C.
  • Yi, Xiao (Shannon)

Abstract

This paper examines the influence of mortality salience on preference for humanoid robot service. Six studies confirm that consumers/tourists are reluctant to adopt humanoid (vs. non-humanoid) service robots and robotic services when mortality is salient. The effect is driven by the perceived threat to human identity. However, temporal distance can alleviate the mortality salience effect. Eliciting a distant-future temporal perspective can reduce consumers'/tourists' existential anxiety, and then attenuate negative reactions to humanoid service robots. This research provides an innovative standpoint on consumers' reactions to service robots under conditions of mortality salience (e.g., during the COVID-19 pandemic). It also offers insight into service robot implementation and design in the hospitality and tourism industry.

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  • Liu, Xing (Stella) & Wan, Lisa C. & Yi, Xiao (Shannon), 2022. "Humanoid versus non-humanoid robots: How mortality salience shapes preference for robot services under the COVID-19 pandemic?," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:anture:v:94:y:2022:i:c:s0160738322000342
    DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2022.103383
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    Cited by:

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    2. Li, Yuan (William) & Wan, Lisa C. & Luo, Xiaoyan & Wu, Chuanlong, 2023. "If museum treasures could talk: How anthropomorphism increases favorable visitor responses," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    3. Chan, Elisa K., 2023. "Pandemic experience and locus of protection," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
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    5. Chang, Yaping & Gao, Yajie & Zhu, Donghong & Safeer, Asif Ali, 2023. "Social robots: Partner or intruder in the home? The roles of self-construal, social support, and relationship intrusion in consumer preference," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    6. Huiyue Ye & Sunny Sun & Rob Law, 2022. "A Review of Robotic Applications in Hospitality and Tourism Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-15, August.

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