Michal Reifen Tagar

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About

Michal Reifen Tagar investigates the intersection of social psychology, human-robot interaction, and moral behavior, with a particular focus on how social presence—both human and artificial—shapes ethical decision-making. Her most cited work, "Studying the opposing effects of robot presence on human corruption" (2016), offers a nuanced contribution to understanding corruption dynamics. Tagar proposes that social presence has two opposing influences: it can foster corruption through collaboration and social contagion, or deter it through monitoring and accountability. By extending this framework to robots, she explores whether non-human agents can similarly influence moral conduct, challenging assumptions about the unique role of human oversight. Though her citation counts are currently modest, Tagar’s research is pioneering in its examination of how robotic presence may either amplify or curb unethical behavior, with implications for designing ethical AI and understanding social influence in increasingly automated environments. Her work bridges social psychology and robotics, offering fresh insights into the subtle ways technology reshapes human integrity.