Stefanie Selic

Papers

Total Citations

107

H-Index

About

Stefanie Selic is a researcher whose work lies at the compelling intersection of social robotics, gerontechnology, and psychosocial health. Her most influential contribution, the 2017 paper "Acceptance of Social Robots by Elder People: Does Psychosocial Functioning Matter?" (94 citations), fundamentally reframed how we understand technology adoption among older adults. Rather than focusing solely on usability or technical features, Selic demonstrated that an individual's psychosocial functioning—including their emotional well-being, social engagement, and cognitive status—is a critical predictor of whether they will accept a social robot into their daily lives. This insight has profound implications for designing companion robots that are truly responsive to the needs of aging populations. In her earlier work, "What Is Emotional About Emotional Robotics?" (13 citations), she critically examined the concept of emotion in human-robot interaction, challenging simplistic assumptions about what it means for a machine to be "emotional." Selic's research is essential reading for anyone interested in human-centered robotics, showing that the success of assistive technology depends as much on understanding human psychology as on engineering innovation.