(A)Immortality: Understanding People'S Motivation For Using A Deadbot And Developing A Parasocial Preference For It – An Empirical Analysis Based On Attachment Theory
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: As a result of continuous progress in the field of artificial intelligence, deadbots offer the possibility of a digital afterlife. Due to their ability to simulate interactions with a deceased person, deadbots lead people form a bond with them and develop a parasocial preference for them. However, the IS literature lacks theories that explain the factors leading people to form an attachment to a deadbot. To address this gap, we apply attachment theory to human-chatbot interactions. We conducted two empirical studies and found that perceiving a deadbot as safe haven as well as proximity maintenance and separation distress contribute to the development of an attachment to the deadbot. Additionally, our results show that a strong attachment to a deadbot fosters the development of a parasocial preference for it, which is reinforced by users' psychological dependence on the deadbot.
Author: Fröbel, Lara
Institution: Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7161612669