Sarah Weigelt

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About

Sarah Weigelt is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction and the psychology of artificial entities, with a particular focus on the uncanny valley effect—the unsettling sensation evoked by nearly human-like robots and virtual characters. Her landmark 2021 meta-analysis, cited over 90 times, systematically examined the independent and dependent variables in uncanny valley research, revealing critical inconsistencies in how the phenomenon is defined and measured across studies. This work has become a foundational reference for researchers seeking methodological rigor in this rapidly evolving field. Weigelt's contributions extend beyond synthesis; she has advanced theoretical frameworks that explain why certain human-like features trigger aversion, and has proposed new experimental paradigms to isolate the effect's underlying mechanisms. Her research has direct implications for designing more comfortable, trust-based interactions with social robots and digital avatars. By clarifying the conditions under which the uncanny valley emerges, Weigelt's work helps engineers and designers create artificial agents that feel familiar rather than eerie. Her meta-analysis remains a must-read for anyone entering this interdisciplinary space.