New research has revealed that there is a growing interest in the idea of having sexual relations with robots. Despite this being a niche interest, the development of such technology continues to improve and become more realistic. As a result, investing in these new sex aids has become more accessible. There is a question of whether this interest is solely for individuals with more unconventional sexual preferences or if others, who may be too embarrassed to pursue such interests in person, would consider it due to the anonymity provided by the internet.
Researchers Connor Leshner and Jessica Johnson sought to better understand the attitudes and interests of individuals in robosexuality. In their paper, “Technically in Love: Individual differences relating to sexual and platonic relationships with robots,” they identified several broader attitudes that predicted an interest in sexual relations with robots. These included sociosexual orientation, which measures attitudes towards more monogamous versus more open sexual attitudes, and social dominance orientation, which measures a person’s desire to support and maintain a ranking of different groups. Contrary to the researchers’ initial beliefs, their findings revealed that it wasn’t individuals with casual and unrestricted sexual attitudes who were keen on the idea of engaging in sexual activities with robots.
Instead, they found that individuals with higher levels of hostile sexism were more likely to express an interest in this. Additionally, the research indicated that men were more interested in pursuing sexual relationships with robots, while women were more inclined towards platonic interactions. The researchers suggested that men with higher levels of hostile sexism may view robots as more trustworthy alternatives to women, or as objects to be treated with disdain, similar to how they handle women. They also posited that individuals with higher social dominance orientation may already view others as being more like objects to use.
In conclusion, the research sheds light on the various attitudes and psychological factors that contribute to the interest in robosexuality, suggesting a need for further exploration and understanding of this evolving topic.
