Following Langer (1992), this article reviews a series of experimental studies that demonstrate that individuals mindlessly apply social rules and expectations to computers. The first set of studies illustrates how individuals overuse human social categories, applying gender stereotypes to computers and ethnically identifying with computer agents. The second set demonstrates thatpeople exhibit overlearned social behaviors such as politeness and reciprocity toward computers. In the third set of studies, premature cognitive commitments are demonstrated: A specialist television set is perceived as providing better content than a generalist television set. A final series of studies demonstrates the depth of social responses with respect to computer ‘personality.’ Alternative explanations for these findings, such asanthropomorphism and intentional social responses, cannot explain the results. We conclude with an agenda for future research.

Clifford Nass

Youngme Moon

Journal of Social Issues

Published for The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI), the Journal of Social Issues (JSI) brings behavioral and social science theory, empirical evidence, and practice to bear on human and social problems. Each issue of the journal focuses on a single topic - recent issues, for example, have addressed poverty, housing and health; privacy as a social and psychological concern; youth and violence; and the impact of social class on education.

The Journal of Social Issues (JSI), published by The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI), aims to apply behavioral and social science theory, empirical evidence, and practical applications to human and social problems. Each issue of the journal focuses on a specific topic; recent issues have addressed themes such as poverty, housing and health; privacy as a social and psychological concern; youth and violence; and the impact of social class on education.

《社会问题杂志》（Journal of Social Issues）是由社会心理学研究协会（SPSSI）出版的期刊，旨在将行为和社会科学理论、实证证据与实践应用于人类和社会问题的研究。每期杂志聚焦于一个特定主题，近期的主题包括贫困、住房与健康；隐私作为社会与心理问题的关注点；青少年与暴力；以及社会阶层对教育的影响等。

J Social Isssues

Machines and Mindlessness: Social Responses to Computers

A series of experimental studies demonstrate that individuals mindlessly apply social rules and expectations to computers, and demonstrates that people exhibit overlearned social behaviors such as politeness and reciprocity toward comput-ers.

Category	Quartile
社会学	1
社会学, 心理学社会	2
社会学, 社会问题	2

Machines and Mindlessness: Social Responses to Computers

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Journal Info

Category	Quartile
SOCIAL ISSUES	1