PSYCHOLOGY NEWS -

 

Humans feel empathy for robots

 

Studies with subjects watching videos where robots were abused, felt pity for them.  Genuine feelings of empathy.

Read more about the tests on humans here:  http://esciencenews.com/articles/2013/04/23/humans.feel.empathy.robots

This is nothing new.  It is a well-known fact that people develop feelings of real affection for their cars, and even attribute a personality to them.  Just last Saturday a listener called the NPR radio program Car Talk and complained about her case of separation anxiety after her father had sold a car that had been with the family for many years. 

http://www.cartalk.com/content/1316-rambler-separation-anxiety

Cars are not exactly robots, but they are a machine that has become a member of the family.

By the way, Car Talk is a really funny radio show.  I recommend it. http://www.cartalk.com/