Uncanny Valley Theory: Aversion To What Appears Human
If when observing a robot with almost human appearance you experience a series of unpleasant sensations, it is possible that you are experiencing a phenomenon explained by The Uncanny Valley Theory.
This theory attempts to explain the reactions that a person experiences in the presence of a figure or image that is excessively human, but on the other hand is not human enough.
The Uncanny Valley Theory, as well as the term Uncanny Valley itself, are concepts related to the world of robotics and 3D animation which refer to a curve of people’s reaction to the presence of an anthropomorphic figure. That is, in the presence of a non-living figure or object, but with a great appearance of a person. These anthropomorphic figures can refer to android robots or highly realistic 3D animations.
The term “Uncanny Valley” It was created by professor and robotics specialist Masahiro Mori in 1970, and its name in Japanese was Bukimi no Tani Gensho. Under the translation known as Uncanny Valley, there is a metaphor that attempts to clarify the reactions that people experience in the presence of a human-shaped robot.
According to this theory, a person’s reaction to an anthropomorphic robot is increasingly positive and empathetic as the figure’s appearance becomes more and more human. However, there is a tipping point at which this reaction changes completely; becoming an aversion response due to excess similarity.
The name “valley” refers to the inclination of the curve present in the graph prepared by Mori, which calculates how favorable the human response is to the presence of an anthropomorphic figure: it rises as its human appearance also grows, until there comes a point where the first plummets when the second is very high.
On the other hand, the term “disturbing” refers to the feeling of strangeness or aversion caused by the perception of something that seems human but in reality is not.
What causes this aversion?
Although it has not yet been possible to reach a completely valid conclusion about the causes of this sensation, there are various theories that try to explain the reason for this phenomenon.
1. Disease rejection hypothesis
A hypothesis developed by psychologist Thalia Wheatley indicates that, after centuries of evolution, human beings have developed the ability to detect any type of distortion in other humans and identify or associate it with any type of physical or mental illness.
Therefore, the feeling of aversion to something that seems human, but shows clear signs that it is not, would be nothing more than a natural defense of our brain against the idea of illness and even death.
This means that all those distortions or oddities that we perceive when faced with an anthropomorphic figure are directly associated, by our brain, with the idea or image of considerably sick or even dead people, thus causing a response of aversion or disgust.
2. The sorites paradox
Also known as heap paradox. Although this explanation is not directly related to the Uncanny Valley Theory, many experts and theorists have used it to try to find the cause of it.
This paradox manifests itself when a person tries to use common sense on a vague, imprecise or unclear concept. In the case of the Uncanny Valley, the human-like figures they end up undermining our sense of identity when trying to find a logical explanation for what we are observing. This generates a negative feeling and rejection of what we do not understand.
3. Hypothesis of violation of human norms
According to this hypothesis, if a figure or robot has an appearance that could be identified with a human, it generates a certain degree of empathy. However, when this figure only partially resembles a human, possessing notable non-human characteristics (such as a lack of clear expression of feelings or unnatural body movements) generating a feeling of uncertainty and a reaction of repulsion.
4. Hypothesis of the religious definition of a person
In societies strongly influenced by religious standards and concepts about human beings the existence of artificial and anthropomorphic objects or figures poses a threat to the idea of being human as it was conceived by different religions.
5. “Specialism” hypothesis
The American psychiatrist Irvin Yalom explains that human beings, faced with the fear of death, create a series of psychological defenses that stop the anxiety caused by the certainty that one day we are going to die. One of these defenses is “specialism.” This is an irrational and unconscious belief by which we assume that death is something inherent to life but that it is something that only applies to others, not to ourselves.
Therefore, the confrontation with an object or robot with a highly human appearance can become so intense that it causes a discrepancy between “specialism” and existential defenses, generating a feeling of vital anguish.
As with most theories that are not scientifically proven, the Uncanny Valley Theory has not escaped criticism. Some experts in the world of robotics reject Mori’s idea under the justification that there is no basis that justifies the reaction curve created by him.
Furthermore, they rely on the fact that At the moment it is only possible to create partially human-like robots , so the theory would not have sufficient foundations. Instead, they affirm that in any case a kind of cognitive dissonance could be generated by which our brain generates expectations about what a human should be, expectations that would not be covered with this type of humanoid figures.
