Intervention with a humanoid robot avatar for individuals with social anxiety disorders comorbid with autism spectrum disorders

Atsushi Yoshida; Hirokazu Kumazaki; Taro Muramatsu; Yuichiro Yoshikawa; Hiroshi Ishiguro; Masaru Mimura

doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103315

Intervention with a humanoid robot avatar for individuals with social anxiety disorders comorbid with autism spectrum disorders

Atsushi Yoshida, Hirokazu Kumazaki, Taro Muramatsu, Yuichiro Yoshikawa, Hiroshi Ishiguro, Masaru Mimura

Department of Psychiatry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

For some individuals with social anxiety disorders (SAD) comorbid with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), it is difficult to speak in front of others. Herein, we report the case of a patient with SAD comorbid with ASD who could not speak in front of others until she used a humanoid robot as her avatar. During the intervention, her personality changed from shy to outgoing, which is explained by the Proteus effect. These case findings suggest that interventions with a robot avatar might improve the motivation for individuals with SAD comorbid with ASD who cannot speak in front of others to communicate.

Original language	English
Article number	103315
Journal	Asian Journal of Psychiatry
Volume	78
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103315
Publication status	Published - 2022 Dec

Keywords

Autism spectrum disorders
Avatar
Motivation
Proteus effect
Robot
Social anxiety disorders

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Psychology(all)
Psychiatry and Mental health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103315

Cite this

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title = "Intervention with a humanoid robot avatar for individuals with social anxiety disorders comorbid with autism spectrum disorders",

abstract = "For some individuals with social anxiety disorders (SAD) comorbid with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), it is difficult to speak in front of others. Herein, we report the case of a patient with SAD comorbid with ASD who could not speak in front of others until she used a humanoid robot as her avatar. During the intervention, her personality changed from shy to outgoing, which is explained by the Proteus effect. These case findings suggest that interventions with a robot avatar might improve the motivation for individuals with SAD comorbid with ASD who cannot speak in front of others to communicate.",

keywords = "Autism spectrum disorders, Avatar, Motivation, Proteus effect, Robot, Social anxiety disorders",

author = "Atsushi Yoshida and Hirokazu Kumazaki and Taro Muramatsu and Yuichiro Yoshikawa and Hiroshi Ishiguro and Masaru Mimura",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported in part by Moonshot R&D Grant Number JPMJMS2011 . Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 The Authors",

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language = "English",

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AU - Yoshida, Atsushi

AU - Kumazaki, Hirokazu

AU - Muramatsu, Taro

AU - Yoshikawa, Yuichiro

AU - Ishiguro, Hiroshi

AU - Mimura, Masaru

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AB - For some individuals with social anxiety disorders (SAD) comorbid with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), it is difficult to speak in front of others. Herein, we report the case of a patient with SAD comorbid with ASD who could not speak in front of others until she used a humanoid robot as her avatar. During the intervention, her personality changed from shy to outgoing, which is explained by the Proteus effect. These case findings suggest that interventions with a robot avatar might improve the motivation for individuals with SAD comorbid with ASD who cannot speak in front of others to communicate.

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Intervention with a humanoid robot avatar for individuals with social anxiety disorders comorbid with autism spectrum disorders

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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