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Mixed methods reveal customization fosters psychological outcomes and community networks in robot ownership.
A key challenge in social robotics is identifying the design features and social mechanisms that sustain long-term engagement with robots. Although mounting evidence suggests that end-user customization is a vital aspect of robot ownership “in the wild”, empirical research on this phenomenon and its psychological outcomes remains sparse. In this mixed methods study, we surveyed 113 robot owners and conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 more, providing a holistic perspective on customization practices among long-term users. Our findings show that customization is highly prevalent among robot owners, with quantitative results indicating that customization indirectly predicts robot attachment through self-extension and psychological ownership. Our interviews furthermore reveal a vibrant culture of customization in online and offline robotics spaces, which is sustained by strong community networks. Together, these results underscore the central role of customization in fostering enduring engagement with companion robots. Through customization, users imbue their robots with personally significant identities, form deeper attachments to them, and reinforce their own individuality as robot owners. Customization also embeds owners within a broader community of robot enthusiasts, promoting social connections, creative practice, and sustained use. Given its prevalence among robot owners, we conclude with recommendations for how robot designers and researchers can leverage customization to set the stage for long-term and personally meaningful human–robot bonds.
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Voges et al. (2026) studied this question.
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