Perceptions of Infidelity with Sex Robots

In two surveys of adults in the United States (N=723), we asked about perceptions of the degree to which a variety of behaviors, when engaged in with a sex robot or a human, would constitute monogamous relationship infidelity (Study 1), and also asked respondents to consider monogamous partner behavior when committed with a robot that was matched to sexual partner preferences (Study 2). Study 1 revealed that acts committed with sex robots were considered less severe and less likely to be judged as infidelity as those same acts committed with another human. Results further revealed that male survey respondents rated all partner behaviors with sex robots as less likely to constitute cheating behavior than their female counterparts. This finding may be explained by the portrayal of sex robots as hyper-feminized female sexual partners for men, both in the way these technologies are presented as well as how they are sold. However, when asked to consider a sex robot that was matched to males or females (Study 2), this difference disappeared. For all respondents, giving sex robots specificity as either male or female resulted in higher ratings of partner infidelity as compared to Study 1. This work allows us to empirically speak to a common concern at the center of many debates over the societal implications of sex robots---potential harm to human relationships.