Put that Away and Talk to Me - the Effects of Smartphone induced Ostracism while Interacting with an Intelligent Virtual Agent

Abstract

This paper presents the implementation of a prototype including a virtual environment in which humans are exposed to a seemingly autonomous Intelligent Virtual Agent (IVA) that ostracises them by using its smartphone during a conversation (a phenomenon called phubbing with adverse outcomes in interhuman communication). Based on the temporal need threat model of ostracism, the effects of phubbing were examined in an online experiment with three conditions (no vs. proactive vs. reactive phubbing) using an IVA. The results showed a significant effect on the warmth attributed to the IVA. Consequently, our study provides partial support that the negative effects of phubbing can be transfered to human-agent interaction. It is thereby not only in line with the underlying theory, but also provides a prototype suitable for future research with phubbing in the context of IVAs.