Tayler Boelk

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Tayler Boelk’s research lies at the intersection of human-robot interaction and social psychology, with a particular focus on how human-like imperfections shape our perceptions of robots. In their most-cited work, “The Pratfall Effect and Interpersonal Impressions of a Robot that Forgets and Apologizes” (2019, 16 citations), Boelk explores a fascinating twist on the classic pratfall effect: rather than diminishing a robot’s appeal, a forgetful, apologetic robot actually enhanced interpersonal impressions compared to a flawless counterpart. This counterintuitive finding challenges assumptions in robotics design, suggesting that strategic vulnerability may foster more natural, trusting human-robot relationships. By applying established social psychological theories to emerging technology, Boelk’s work bridges two fields and offers practical insights for engineers designing socially intelligent machines. Though early in their career, this study has already sparked interest among researchers studying robot social competence and user acceptance. Boelk’s contribution demonstrates that sometimes, a robot’s most endearing quality is its willingness to say “I’m sorry.”