Emotional Dependence Path of Artificial Intelligence Chatbot Based on Structural Equation Modeling

Abstract

With the rise of ChatGPT, the anthropomorphic dialogue form of chatbots is sought after and relied on by a large number of users. Compared with traditional social real objects, chatbots are more controllable in social relationships. At the same time, compared with traditional real social objects, chatbots may show better emotional identification with objects. The structural equation modeling is a path analysis method based on the factor analysis and linear regression, which can be used to analyze the path relationship between intricate variables. Based on the structural equation modeling, this paper analyzes the potential pathways for artificial intelligence chatbots to induce the user's emotional dependence. The results show that the “sense of identification” and “sense of control” will cause people to have emotional dependence on the artificial intelligence chatbots, with p < 0.05. However, the psychological distance plays a regulating role in the identification-emotional dependence and the sense of control-emotional dependence, respectively. The research results in this paper show that there is a certain theoretical basis for the chatting intelligent robots to transform from a tool role to a social and emotional role.