When self-humanization leads to algorithm aversion: What users want from decision support systems on prosocial microlending platforms

Decision support systems are increasingly being adopted by various digital platforms. However, prior research has shown that certain contexts can induce algorithm aversion, leading people to reject their decision support. This paper investigates how and why the context in which users are making deci...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Heßler, P.O. (Pascal Oliver)|||/items/90abdfaa-de36-4162-af56-86862dc79f43, Pfeiffer, J. (Jella)|||/items/47a4c50b-7049-4660-949f-57d6b0aa44c6, Hafenbrädl, S. (Sebastian)|||/items/6c34dd6b-4848-4c31-9e36-4aa3609f3fdf
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Navarra
Repositorio:Dadun. Depósito Académico Digital de la Universidad de Navarra
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:dadun.unav.edu:10171/69296
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10171/69296
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Self-humanization
Algorithm aversion
Empathy
Autonomy
Decision support
Prosocial platforms
Descripción
Sumario:Decision support systems are increasingly being adopted by various digital platforms. However, prior research has shown that certain contexts can induce algorithm aversion, leading people to reject their decision support. This paper investigates how and why the context in which users are making decisions (for-profit versus prosocial microlending decisions) affects their degree of algorithm aversion and ultimately their preference for more human-like (versus computer-like) decision support systems. The study proposes that contexts vary in their affordances for self-humanization. Specifically, people perceive prosocial decisions as more relevant to self-humanization than for-profit contexts, and, in consequence, they ascribe more importance to empathy and autonomy while making decisions in prosocial contexts. This increased importance of empathy and autonomy leads to a higher degree of algorithm aversion. At the same time, it also leads to a stronger preference for human-like decision support, which could therefore serve as a remedy for an algorithm aversion induced by the need for self-humanization. The results from an online experiment support the theorizing. The paper discusses both theoretical and design implications, especially for the potential of anthropomorphized conversational agents on platforms for prosocial decision-making.