Interpersonal Emotion Regulation and AI: How People Perceive Offers to Regulate

Date of Award

Spring 6-13-2026

Document Type

Undergraduate Honors Thesis

Degree Name

B.S. in Psychology, Sociology

Organizational Unit

College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, Psychology

First Advisor

Kateri McRae

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

Artificial intelligence (AI), Chatbots, Emotion regulation, Interpersonal emotion regulation, Relationships, Statistical analysis

Abstract

Interpersonal emotion regulation (IER) is a subtype of emotion regulation (ER) occurring between two people (receiver and provider) which is known to be effective in changing affect as well as promoting positive long-term outcomes. IER is adaptive and healthy, but little is known about the contextual factors that influence a receiver’s perception of an IER offer. There is reason to believe that the nature of the receiver’s relationship with the provider is relevant. This online study assessed receiver perception of a hypothetical IER offer from a romantic partner, friend, or AI chatbot in two combined samples (N = 211) of Prolific users and university students. We hypothesized that receivers would perceive IER offers from romantic partners most favorably and offers from AI least favorably, while offers from friends would land in between. An ANOVA comparing receiver’s ratings on the offer’s influence, helpfulness, validation, manipulation, and shame revealed a main effect of relationship type, in that receivers had significantly more favorable perceptions of human IER offers, regardless of their relationship, compared to AI offers. This foundational study establishes a basis for understanding the contextual factors that contribute to receiver’s perception of IER in common social interactions.

Copyright Date

6-9-2026

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.

Rights Holder

Claire Fox

Provenance

Received from Author

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

45 pgs

File Size

539 KB

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