Kaitlyn M. Patterson

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Kaitlyn M. Patterson investigates the psychology of human-robot interaction, focusing on how design and experience shape our emotional bonds with social robots. Her most influential work, “Man’s New Best Friend? Strengthening Human-Robot Dog Bonding by Enhancing the Doglikeness of Sony’s Aibo” (22 citations), experimentally demonstrates that adding fur and framing a robotic dog as a puppy significantly strengthens human-robot attachment—revealing that subtle physical and narrative cues can transform a machine into a companion. In related research, she shows that early task success with social robots fosters more positive attitudes, underscoring the importance of first impressions in technology adoption. Patterson’s contributions bridge robotics, psychology, and design, offering practical insights for creating more engaging and emotionally resonant social robots. Her work has been recognized for its innovative approach to studying human-robot relationships, and she continues to explore how factors like appearance and performance influence our willingness to accept robots into our daily lives.