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Social robots have been known for their use in therapeutic applications for consumers with autism (Arora e al., 2021; Tapus, Ţăpuş, & Matarić, 2008; Libin & Libin, 2004). There is a scarcity of research exploring the interrelationships among robotic anthropomorphism, big five human personality traits (e.g., extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness), social motivation, and autism spectrum disorder. The purpose for this research is to demonstrate these interconnections in the context of conversation management studies. Robotic anthropomorphism can be defined as the human-like qualities of a social robot (e.g., robot’s eyes, gaze, speech, etc.) (Bartneck, Kulic, & Croft, 2009), and it is related to the big five human personality traits. Anthropomorphism has been found to have a positive influence on people with autism spectrum disorder. Social robots with anthropomorphic features exhibit positive human-like qualities and characteristics, with the exception of negative qualities such as judgment and impatience. Research shows that robotic anthropomorphism influences the relationship between human personality traits and likeability of social robots (Arora et al., 2020; 2021), which may positively impact individuals with autism spectrum disorder during human-robot interactions through the personality traits of extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
Autism spectrum disorder can be defined as a developmental disorder characterized by difficulties to form and maintain social relationships by impairment of the ability to communicate verbally / non-verbally and through restricted interest / activities. Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is one of the five types of Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs) that needs ‘cognitive rehabilitation’ as an educational process aimed at reducing the learning / cognitive disability within the limitations imposed by available resources, according to the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences (ANCDS) (Beeson & Robey, 2012; Papadakis & Kalogiannakis, 2020) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) (American Psychiatric Association, 1980; 2013). ASD is an early-onset, pervasive developmental disorder that manifests itself in anomalies in social communication and interaction along with abnormal restricted and/or repetitive patterns of behavior. Cognitive rehabilitation focuses on analysis and restoration of cognitive skills, such as orientation, insight, attention, memory, problem solving, and organization (American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 2013). Social robots can work as ‘therapy tools’ to improve engagement and elicit novel social behaviors from people with autism (Scassellati et al., 2012).
Recent research shows that social motivational deficits are believed to have downstream effects on the development of social cognition; and as such, social cognition deficits in consumers with ASD have been rendered a consequence and not a cause of disrupted social interest (Chevallier et al., 2012). Social motivation refers to a human’s need to interact with others and gain acceptance and validation. It can be studied at the behavioral, biological, and evolutionary levels (Chevallier et al., 2012). At a behavioral level, people adapt to the social world and find it rewarding. The two components of reward are wanting and liking, however, people with autism spectrum disorder lack the motivation to want. Individuals with ASD score lower on the friendship questionnaire which tests constructs such as pleasure in close friendships or enjoyment in interaction (Chevallier et al., 2012). At a biological level, specific regions of the brain play a significant role in specific aspects of social motivation, however, no region operates in isolation. At an evolutionary level, collaborative activities allow access to benefits that would otherwise be inaccessible. However, experimental evidence proposes that the preference for collaborative activities is diminished in autism spectrum disorder (Chevallier et al., 2012). Social robots can be used to improve interactions on all the aforementioned levels with consumers diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.