Isolated by Robotic Co-Workers: The Impact of Verbal Ostracism on Psychological Needs and Human Behavior

This study explores the impact of robotic ostracism by language on fundamental psychological needs and its carryover effect on subsequent human-human interaction. In a laboratory experiment, n = 68 participants experienced ostracism or inclusion by two co-present robots during a teamwork task. During ostracism, the robots communicated in an unknown language. Findings reveal that verbal ostracism by robots negatively influences basic psychological needs and fosters prosocial behavior towards other humans in later interactions. Implications for mixed human-robot teams in the workplace are discussed.