Patrick Ehrenbrink

Deutsche Telekom (Germany), Technische Universität Berlin

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Patrick Ehrenbrink is a researcher whose work lies at the intersection of social psychology and human-robot interaction (HRI). His key research area investigates how fundamental social-psychological phenomena translate into interactions with artificial agents. His major contribution is the pioneering exploration of the social facilitation effect—the well-known phenomenon where an individual's performance changes in the presence of others—within the context of anthropomorphic robots. Through his most-cited paper, "Investigating the Social Facilitation Effect in Human–Robot Interaction" (2013, 17 citations), Ehrenbrink demonstrated that this deeply human effect can be triggered by robots, challenging assumptions about the boundaries of social influence. This work, building on an earlier 2012 study (3 citations), provides critical evidence that robots are not merely tools but are perceived as social actors, fundamentally altering how we design and understand collaborative environments. By bridging classic psychological theory with cutting-edge robotics, Ehrenbrink’s research offers a compelling framework for future studies on robot presence and human performance, marking a notable achievement in the field of HRI.