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About

Connor Esterwood is a prominent researcher specializing in human-robot interaction (HRI), with particular expertise in two interconnected domains: personality dynamics and trust formation between humans and robots. His work has made substantial contributions to understanding how both human and robot personality traits shape the acceptance and effectiveness of robotic systems, most notably through his systematic reviews and meta-analyses that have brought coherence to a previously fragmented field. His 2021 meta-analysis examining human personality as a predictor of robot acceptance (76 citations) and his review of personality in HRI (81 citations) stand as foundational references for researchers entering the field. Equally influential is Esterwood's body of work on trust repair in HRI. His research explores how robots can rebuild human trust following mistakes, examining strategies such as apologies, denials, and promises across multiple violation scenarios. His finding that cumulative trust violations compound negative perceptions—captured memorably in "Three Strikes and You Are Out!" (74 citations)—has clear implications for real-world robot deployment. He has also extended this work into healthcare settings, recognizing robots' growing clinical role. With over 500 cumulative citations, Esterwood's research provides essential frameworks for designing robots that humans can genuinely trust and accept as collaborative partners.