Trusting a Virtual Driver That Looks, Acts, and Thinks Like You.
OBJECTIVE
We examined whether participants would trust an agent that was similar to them more than an agent that was dissimilar to them.


BACKGROUND
Trust is an important psychological factor determining the acceptance of smart systems. Because smart systems tend to be treated like humans, and similarity has been shown to increase trust in humans, we expected that similarity would increase trust in a virtual agent.


METHODS
In a driving simulator experiment, participants (N = 111) were presented with a virtual agent that was either similar to them or not. This agent functioned as their virtual driver in a driving simulator, and trust in this agent was measured. Furthermore, we measured how trust changed with experience.


RESULTS
Prior to experiencing the agent, the similar agent was trusted more than the dissimilar agent. This effect was mediated by perceived similarity. After experiencing the agent, the similar agent was still trusted more than the dissimilar agent.


CONCLUSIONS
Just as similarity between humans increases trust in another human, similarity also increases trust in a virtual agent. When such an agent is presented as a virtual driver in a self-driving car, it could possibly enhance the trust people have in such a car.


CONCLUSIONS
Displaying a virtual driver that is similar to the human driver might increase trust in a self-driving car.
Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands frankverberne@gmail.com.
Frank M F
FM
Verberne
Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
Jaap
J
Ham
Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
Cees J H
CJ
Midden
D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D035502:Trust / Q000523:psychology*; D014584:User-Computer Interface
facial similarity; liking; mimicry; perceived similarity; shared goals; similarity; trust; virtual agent