Anna Henschel
Papers
6
Total Citations
442
H-Index
4
About
Anna Henschel is a leading researcher at the intersection of social cognition and human-robot interaction (HRI), exploring what makes a robot truly “social.” Her highly cited 2021 review, *What Makes a Robot Social?* (245 citations), provides a foundational framework for understanding social robots from science fiction to real-world applications in homes and hospitals. In *Social Cognition in the Age of Human–Robot Interaction* (177 citations), she critically examines the persistent mismatch between human social expectations and robotic capabilities. Henschel’s experimental work challenges assumptions in the field: she found that faces do not automatically capture more attention than non-social distractors in cognitive tasks, and that synchronous movement with robots does not reliably enhance likeability or social motivation. Her research also reveals that humans expend more effort when competing against robots after observing competitive HRI, highlighting the nuanced psychological impact of robotic opponents. By combining rigorous cognitive experiments with real-world deployment insights, Henschel’s work shapes how we design, evaluate, and understand robots that must function alongside people—from hospital assistants to household companions.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 2Social Cognition in the Age of Human–Robot Interaction177 citations · 2020
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