AI Intervention for social exclusion: the emotional regulation function and basic need satisfaction mechanism of chatbots

This study investigates how chatbot interaction affects the basic needs of individuals experiencing social exclusion, the mediating role of positive emotions, and the optimal level of linguistic anthropomorphism in chatbots. This study was conducted through three progressive experiments. Study 1 employed the Cyberball paradigm to induce social exclusion, and the results showed that excluded individuals had a significantly higher willingness to use chatbots. Study 2 combined the O-Cam paradigm, physiological indicators, and scale measurements, confirming that chatbot use could significantly enhance basic needs such as belongingness and self-esteem, as well as positive emotions, while reducing negative emotions. Among these relationships, positive emotions played a full mediating role. Study 3 set up three groups with low, medium, and high levels of linguistic anthropomorphism. The results indicated that chatbots with a medium level of anthropomorphism achieved the optimal effects in improving basic needs, enhancing positive emotions, and reducing negative emotions. Collectively, these findings indicate that chatbots can serve as effective intervention tools for social exclusion, with their mechanisms of action related to the mediation of positive emotions and moderate anthropomorphism. This research provides theoretical and practical implications for relevant psychological interventions.