Self-determination and attitudes toward artificial intelligence: cross-national and longitudinal perspectives
Open accessAbstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important in all domains of life. Therefore, it is crucial to understand individuals’ attitudes towards AI. This article investigated attitudes toward AI through two studies that are based on the self-determination theory and basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness). Study 1 used cross-sectional samples of adult populations aged 18–75 in Finland (N = 1,541), France (N = 1,561), Germany (N = 1,529), Ireland (N = 1,112), Italy (N = 1,530), and Poland (N = 1,533). Study 2 was based on a longitudinal two-wave sample of adults aged 18–80 from Finland (N = 828). Based on the robust regression analyses, Study 1 found that basic psychological needs were associated with higher AI positivity and lower AI negativity across Europe. According to the Study 2 results, based on hybrid multilevel regression models, autonomy and relatedness increased AI positivity and decreased AI negativity over time. The results provide robust evidence on the role of self-determination in attitudes towards AI. Self-determination is an important factor in AI acceptance and is becoming increasingly important considering the rapid development and adoption of AI solutions.
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Bergdahl et al. (2023) find that individuals' social motives significantly influence their acceptance of AI technologies and their willingness to collaborate.
“Consistent with this view, Bergdahl et al. (2023) also find that individuals’ social motives significantly influence their acceptance of AI technologies and their willingness to collaborate.”
From From humans to AI: understanding why AI is perceived as the preferred co-creation partner (2025) · cites this paper as Bergdahl et al., 2023
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- Authors
- Bergdahl, J., Latikka, R., Celuch, M., Savolainen, I., Soares Mantere, E., Savela, N., & Oksanen, A.
- Affiliations
- Tampere University (FI)
- Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (FI)
- Corresponding author
- Bergdahl, Jenna
- Venue
- Telematics and Informatics
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2023-08
- Volume
- 82
- Pages
- 102013
- ISSN
- 0736-5853 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4382725812
- Cited by
- 204
- References
- 56
- Citations by year
- 2026: 83 · 2025: 88 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 7
- FWCI
- 52.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Telematics and Informatics (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja (submittedVersion)
- Tampere University Institutional Repository (Tampere University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- Koneen Säätiö (202011325)
- Tampereen Yliopisto
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Technology Adoption and User Behaviour
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Ethics and Social Impacts of AI
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › AI in Service Interactions
- Keywords
- attitudes toward AI, self-determination theory, basic psychological needs, autonomy, competence, relatedness, AI acceptance, cross-national comparison, longitudinal change in attitudes, European adults
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