The Cuter, the Better: Baby Schema Effect Applied to Screen-faced Robot

Research shows that images of infant faces with exaggerated features - such as larger eyes, a bigger forehead, and a smaller nose and mouth - increase perceptions of cuteness and caretaking motivation in adults. This phenomenon, first discovered by ethologist Konrad Lorenz, is called the baby schema effect (BSE) and refers to the human tendency to be more attentive and friendly toward faces with baby-like features. In human-robot interaction (HRI), the BSE could be used to design more socially acceptable robots by making their faces appear cuter to users. Previously, Chen and Jia (2023) found that real-life robot faces manipulated to exhibit a high baby schema level were rated as cuter than those with a low baby schema level; however, the results were significantly influenced by the type of robot. The current study replicates the above-mentioned method using Valerie, a screen-faced robot - a type not included in Chen and Jia (2023). Participants were invited to the Crochet Lab and asked to rate three versions of Valerie's face - low BSE, original, and high BSE - on likability, cuteness, baby-facedness, and approachability, in random order. This study expands on Chen and Jia's (2023) findings by examining the effect of infantile facial features on the cuteness and likability of screen-faced robots, also exploring the impact of viewing the robot's face in person, as prior studies gathered data through online surveys.