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Attachment Anxiety and Problematic Use of Conversational Artificial Intelligence: Mediation of Emotional Attachment and Moderation of Anthropomorphic Tendencies
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“Substantively, this expectation is consistent with evidence that anthropomorphic AI can increase dependency-related outcomes through user satisfaction or emotional attachment, and that loneliness shapes how users respond to conversational AI and AI companions (Heng and Zhang, 2025; Nakagomi et al., 2026; Peng et al., 2025; Yu and Lan, 2025).”
From When loneliness amplifies the risk of problematic emotional dependence: perceived anthropomorphism and basic psychological need satisfaction in AI companion use (2026) · cites this paper as Heng and Zhang, 2025
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“Instead, anthropomorphic perception becomes consequential when it makes the AI interaction feel need-satisfying, personally responsive, and relationally meaningful (Guingrich and Graziano, 2025; Heng and Zhang, 2025; Yu and Lan, 2025).”
From When loneliness amplifies the risk of problematic emotional dependence: perceived anthropomorphism and basic psychological need satisfaction in AI companion use (2026) · cites this paper as Heng and Zhang, 2025
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“31 This need can be met through interpersonal relationships or inanimate objects such as robots.”
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Epley, N., Waytz, A., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2007) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/0033-295x.114.4.864 · Cited by 4,069 · cited 2×
“39 The anthropomorphic tendency, consequently, refers to the proclivity toward this cognitive deviation, where individuals habitually ascribe human characteristics to nonhuman objects.”
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“27 30 Specifically, individuals with anxious attachment crave a sense of belonging and establish connections and emotional bonds with others.”
My Chatbot Companion - a Study of Human-Chatbot Relationships
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“52 When psychological needs become intense and frequent, individuals may develop compulsive behaviors and addiction tendencies.”
Loneliness before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review with meta-analysis.
Ernst, M., Niederer, D., Werner, A. M., Czaja, S. J., Mikton, C., Ong, A. D., Rosen, T., Brähler, E., & Beutel, M. E. (2022) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/amp0001005 · Cited by 584 · cited 1×
“7,8 During this period, millions turned to CAI for companionship.”
Chaves, A. P., & Gerosa, M. A. (2021) · International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction · doi:10.1080/10447318.2020.1841438 · Cited by 572
User Experiences of Social Support From Companion Chatbots in Everyday Contexts: Thematic Analysis
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“33,34 CAI features, such as storing chat history, understanding user habits, engaging in social interactions, and disclosing intimate information without prompts, 35,36 consumingly attracts individuals with anxious attachment and encourages them to establish emotional attachments.”
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Yang, X. (2026) · International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction · doi:10.1080/10447318.2026.2618548 · Cited by 3
Liu, T., Shih, R.-M., Luo, T., & Jin, S. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1900817
Metadata
- Authors
- Heng, S., & Zhang, Z.
- ORCID
- Heng, Shupeng
- Venue
- Psychology Research and Behavior Management
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2025-08
- Volume
- Volume 18
- Pages
- 1775-1785
- ISSN
- 1179-1578
- PMC
- PMC12379994
- Cited by
- 31
- References
- 16
- Language
- en
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