Title

A theoretical model of differential social attributions toward computing technology: when the metaphor becomes the model

Authors

Authors

G. M. Marakas; R. D. Johnson;J. W. Palmer

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

Abbreviated Journal Title

Int. J. Hum.-Comput. Stud.

Keywords

anthropomorphism; symbolic computing; social acts; laws of control; computer self-efficiency; ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCE; INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY; CAUSAL ATTRIBUTION; SELF-EFFICACY; BEHAVIORAL CHANGE; CORE EVALUATIONS; SATISFACTION; PERFORMANCE; AGENTS; WORK; Computer Science, Cybernetics; Ergonomics; Psychology, Multidisciplinary

Abstract

paper explores the use of metaphorical personification (anthropomorphism) as an aid to describing and understanding the complexities of computing technologies. This common and seemingly intuitive practice tit "reads", "writes", "thinks", "is friendly", "catches and transmits viruses", etc.) has become the standard by which we formulate our daily communications, and often our formal training mechanisms, with regard to the technology. Both anecdotal and empirical sources have reported numerous scenarios in which computers have played a noticeably social role, thus being positioned more as a social actor than as a machine or "neutral tool." In these accounts, human behavior has ranged from making social reference to the device ("It's really much smarter than me,"), to more overt social interactions including conversational interplay and display of common human emotions in response to an interaction. Drawing from behavioral psychology and attribution theory, a theoretical model of the phenomenon is offered from which several propositions are advanced regarding the nature of the behavior, positive and negative implications associated with extended use of this metaphor, and recommendations for research into this ubiquitous social phenomena. (C) 2000 Academic Press.

Journal Title

International Journal of Human-Computer Studies

Volume

52

Issue/Number

4

Publication Date

1-1-2000

Document Type

Review

Language

English

First Page

719

Last Page

750

WOS Identifier

WOS:000086498600005

ISSN

1071-5819

Share

COinS