Jianning Dang
Papers
9
Total Citations
371
H-Index
8
About
Jianning Dang is a social psychologist whose research sits at the intersection of human-robot interaction, social cognition, and cross-cultural psychology. With a growing body of work accumulating over 370 citations, Dang has established himself as a notable voice in understanding how people psychologically relate to artificial intelligence and robotic systems. His most influential contribution, "Robots are friends as well as foes" (2020, 157 citations), revealed the nuanced ambivalence humans hold toward AI robots across American and Chinese cultural contexts, challenging simplified narratives about public attitudes toward technology. Building on this foundation, Dang has consistently explored how fundamental psychological factors — including implicit theories of mind, loneliness, mindsets, and social connectedness — shape human responses to robots and AI. Notably, his work provocatively reframes anthropomorphism not merely as a compensation for social deficit, but as a growth-oriented social phenomenon. Dang's cross-cultural comparative approach, spanning the United States, China, and the United Kingdom, adds particular depth to his findings. His more recent investigations into robot swarm interaction, nostalgia's role in technology adoption, and the anthropomorphism-dehumanization link demonstrate an impressive breadth of inquiry, making his work essential reading for scholars navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of human-AI relations.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 5Social Connectedness Promotes Robot Anthropomorphism18 citations · 2023
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