Abstract
The design of artificial empathy is one of the most essential issues in social robotics. This is because empathic interactions with ordinary people are needed to introduce robots into our society. Several attempts have been made for specific situations. However, such attempts have provided several limitations; thus, diminishing authenticity. The present article proposes “affective developmental robotics (hereafter, ADR),” which provides more authentic artificial empathy based on the concept of cognitive developmental robotics (hereafter, CDR). First, the evolution and development of empathy as revealed in neuroscience and biobehavioral studies are reviewed, moving from emotional contagion to envy and schadenfreude. These terms are then reconsidered from the ADR/CDR viewpoint, particularly along the developmental trajectory of self-other cognition. Next, a conceptual model of artificial empathy is proposed based on an ADR/CDR viewpoint and discussed with respect to several existing studies. Finally, a general discussion and proposals for addressing future issues are given.
Highlights
Empathic interactions among people are important for realizing true communication
This suggests that the empathizer has interoceptive awareness of his or her own bodily states and is able to distinguish between the self and other, which is a key aspect of the following definitions of empathy-related terms from an evolutionary perspective
A conceptual model of empathic development has been proposed in terms of self-other discrimination (Fig. 6)
Summary
Empathic interactions among people are important for realizing true communication. These interactions are even more important in the case of social robots, which are expected to soon emerge throughout society. We provide a review of neuroscience and biobehavioral studies assessing the evolution and development of empathy. This begins with a trajectory from emotional contagion to sympathy and compassion, via emotional and cognitive empathy, and ending with envy and schadenfreude. This model is discussed in terms of existing studies in Sect.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
