Eric Schniter

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About

Eric Schniter is a behavioral scientist whose research bridges experimental economics, evolutionary psychology, and human-robot interaction. His work explores the cognitive and emotional foundations of trust, cooperation, and decision-making across human and artificial agents. Schniter’s most-cited study, “Trust in humans and robots: Economically similar but emotionally different” (2020, 78 citations), demonstrates that while people extend trust to robots in economically rational ways, they experience significantly less emotional engagement—such as betrayal or gratitude—compared to interactions with humans. This finding has profound implications for designing trustworthy AI and understanding the limits of human-machine relationships. His related work, “Trust in Humans, Robots, and Cyborgs: Treated the Same, but Experienced Differently” (2018), further unpacks the psychological asymmetry between human and nonhuman trust. Schniter’s contributions are notable for integrating experimental methods with evolutionary theory, revealing how ancient social instincts shape modern technological interactions. His research is widely cited in behavioral economics, human-robot interaction, and trust studies, offering critical insights for researchers and students interested in the future of cooperation in mixed human-agent societies.