In building on theories of Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC), Human-Robot Interaction, and Media Psychology (i.e. Theory of Affective Bonding), the current paper proposes an explanation of how over time, people experience the mediated or simulated aspects of the interaction with a social robot. In two simultaneously running loops, a more reflective process is balanced with a more affective process. If human interference is detected behind the machine, Robot-Mediated Communication commences, which basically follows CMC assumptions; if human interference remains undetected, Human-Robot Communication comes into play, holding the robot for an autonomous social actor. The more emotionally aroused a robot user is, the more likely they develop an affective relationship with what actually is a machine. The main contribution of this paper is an integration of Computer-Mediated Communication, Human-Robot Communication, and Media Psychology, outlining a full-blown theory of robot communication connected to friendship formation, accounting for communicative features, modes of processing, as well as psychophysiology.

翻译：基于计算机中介通讯、人机交互与媒介心理学（即情感依恋理论）的理论，本文阐释了人们如何随着时间的推移，体验与社交机器人互动中的中介或模拟层面。在两条并行运行的回路中，一个更具反思性的过程与一个更具情感性的过程相互平衡。如果人类干扰被识别为机器背后的存在，则启动机器人中介通讯，其基本遵循计算机中介通讯的假设；若人类干扰未被识别，则人类-机器人通讯发挥作用，将机器人视为自主的社会行动者。机器人用户的情感唤起程度越高，他们越有可能与本质上是一台机器的物体建立情感关系。本文的主要贡献在于整合了计算机中介通讯、人类-机器人通讯与媒介心理学，勾勒出一套与友谊形成相关的完整机器人通讯理论，该理论涵盖了传播特征、处理模式以及心理生理学等方面。