Lara Christoforakos

About

Lara Christoforakos investigates the psychological foundations of human-technology relationships, focusing on trust, anthropomorphism, and social bonding with robots and chatbots. Her most cited work (136 citations) systematically explores whether robots earn trust through the same mechanisms as humans—competence, warmth, and anthropomorphism—challenging assumptions in human-robot interaction (HRI). She further examines how regular chatbot use shapes human-technology relationships (43 citations), identifying key factors that sustain long-term engagement, particularly in healthcare contexts. Christoforakos also unpacks individual and product-related drivers of anthropomorphism (32 citations), revealing why people attribute human-like qualities to non-human agents. Her recent review on social robot personality (2023) synthesizes existing research and sets a forward-looking agenda for designing socially capable robots. By bridging social psychology and HRI, her work informs the development of companion technologies that are trusted, relatable, and effective over time. Christoforakos’s research is essential reading for scholars and designers aiming to create socially intelligent systems that integrate seamlessly into human lives.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Can Robots Earn Our Trust the Same Way Humans Do? A Systematic Exploration of Competence, Warmth, and Anthropomorphism as Determinants of Trust Development in HRI

   136 citations · 2021
2. 2
   Connect With Me. Exploring Influencing Factors in a Human-Technology Relationship Based on Regular Chatbot Use

   43 citations · 2021
3. 3
   Technology as a Social Companion? An Exploration of Individual and Product-Related Factors of Anthropomorphism

   32 citations · 2022
4. 4
   Social Robot Personality: A Review and Research Agenda

   5 citations · 2023

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links