"In a classic study, one-year-old babies were placed on clear plastic near the edge of a " visual cliff " that made it appear that the ground drops away and they could fall. Their mothers were placed on the far side of the cliff and the babies looked at their facial expressions to determine if there was danger. If the mothers expressed positive emotions, most babies would cross over the cliff."
"Emotion expressions from others are powerful signals to us and shape behavior. Bowlers don't smile when they knock down the pins - they smile when they turn back to their friends. If we see someone express joy, it signals that we can approach and engage them, that they welcome us. The expression of negative emotions can be even more powerful in shaping behavior. If we see someone express anger, we assume that they are powerful and we are more likely to give into their demands."
Rapid development of interactive AI tools is enabling convincing creation and alteration of emotional expressions. Emotional expressions serve as social signals that guide behavior and trust, beginning in infancy with social referencing. When caregivers show positive expressions, infants approach potential danger; negative expressions deter them. Emotional signals continue to shape adult behavior, signaling approachability, dominance, or contempt and prompting behavioral adjustments. The ability of AI to fabricate or modify these expressions creates inaccurate emotional signals that can deceive observers, enable personal echo chambers where AI provides constant positive feedback, and pose substantial risks to social trust and interpersonal judgment.
Read at Psychology Today
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