The uncanny valley effect explains why creepy robots trigger our fear
Humanoid figures that look almost, but not quite, human often trigger a deep sense of unease known as the uncanny valley effect, a psychological phenomenon first identified in 1970.
The uncanny valley describes the dip in our emotional response when a robot or animation becomes highly realistic yet retains subtle imperfections. While we find cute, stylized robots likable, entities that appear nearly human often evoke feelings of eerie revulsion or coldness.
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