Saskia Heijnen

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About

Saskia Heijnen is a researcher in human-robot interaction, with a focus on the psychological mechanisms that drive people to anthropomorphize robots. Her work centers on how movement dynamics—particularly synchronization—shape perceptions of robots as social agents. In her most-cited study, "The Impact of Human–Robot Synchronization on Anthropomorphization" (2019, 19 citations), Heijnen experimentally demonstrated that synchronous movement between a human and a robot increases anthropomorphism, and that the initiator of the movement plays a key role in this effect. This research provides foundational insight into the subtle behavioral cues that foster social bonding with machines. While her citation count is still growing, Heijnen’s work is notable for its rigorous experimental design and its contribution to understanding the cognitive underpinnings of human-robot relationships. Her findings have implications for designing more intuitive and socially engaging robots in fields like healthcare, education, and collaborative work. Heijnen’s research sits at the intersection of social psychology and robotics, offering a nuanced view of how humans perceive and relate to non-human agents.