Prompt Cast
The Uncanny Valley: Exploring the Phenomenon of Creepiness in Human-like Objects
TLDR The uncanny valley is a phenomenon where people feel repulsed by robots or objects that look almost human. Researchers have found that this phenomenon is not limited to Western cultures and that even tribes in Cambodia have sensitivities to human-like objects.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Masahiro Mori's 1970 article on the uncanny valley, which was only translated into English in 2005, identified the phenomenon where people are repulsed by robots that look almost human.
06:10
Masahiro Mori's graph on the uncanny valley shows that as robots become more human-like, people's affinity for them increases, until a certain point where there is a significant dip in affinity, which is known as the uncanny valley.
11:56
The uncanny valley refers to a point where our affinity for human-like objects or characters drops significantly, and this valley is named because it represents a dip in affinity that goes below the x-axis into negative territory, with the bottom of the valley being occupied by lifelike androids, corpses, and zombies.
17:37
The uncanny valley is a phenomenon that is being studied by researchers, such as Talia Wheatley at Dartmouth College, who have found that it is not limited to Western or American cultures and that even tribes in Cambodia have sensitivities to human-like objects that are not actually human, with the eyes being a key factor in determining human likeness.
23:41
Studies on the uncanny valley are difficult to conduct due to the lack of defined variables, but researchers are finding evidence that supports its existence.
29:26
The purpose of creating life-like looking robots is to interact with humans, but the uncanny valley phenomenon poses a challenge for robot designers to overcome in order to prevent people from being creeped out by their creations.
35:23
The movie Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within and The Polar Express both fell into the Uncanny Valley, with reviewers noting the coldness in the characters' eyes and the mechanical quality of their movements.
41:05
The movie Mars Needs Moms was a victim of the Uncanny Valley and was considered the worst example of CGI in the valley, leading to the company responsible for it being shut down.
46:28
The concept of "the creeps" or feeling creeped out is related to the Uncanny Valley and negative affinity, and it is believed to be a result of our brain's evolved warning system to avoid potential pathogens or diseased individuals.
52:37
Creepiness is a result of non-verbal mimicry, violation of expectation, mortality salience theory, anthropomorphism, and the social contract to identify potential threats.
58:14
Physical traits that are stereotypically linked to creepy people, such as bulging eyes or licking lips, are considered creepy when combined with other creepy behaviors, and 95% of participants in a study found men to be more likely to be creepy than women.
01:04:22
The concept of the uncanny valley is based on the idea of essentialism, where there are certain unique traits that define a species, and when those traits are not fully present, it creates a sense of unease or creepiness.
01:09:37
The episode ends with the hosts providing contact information for listeners to get in touch with them.
Categories:
Society & Culture
