The impact of bionic prostheses on users' self-perceptions: A qualitative study
Bionic devices for reestablishing or augmenting users' capabilities (e.g., bionic prostheses or exoskeletons) are becoming increasingly common. While prior research examined how such devices affect others' perceptions of their users, little is known about how these devices affect users...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Acta Psychologica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691823002615 |
| _version_ | 1797399219117490176 |
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| author | Maximilian Bretschneider Bertolt Meyer Frank Asbrock |
| author_facet | Maximilian Bretschneider Bertolt Meyer Frank Asbrock |
| author_sort | Maximilian Bretschneider |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bionic devices for reestablishing or augmenting users' capabilities (e.g., bionic prostheses or exoskeletons) are becoming increasingly common. While prior research examined how such devices affect others' perceptions of their users, little is known about how these devices affect users' self-image and -perception, and the corresponding theory is scarce. To account for this gap, we conducted semi-structured interviews with users of bionic upper limb prostheses to obtain insights into their self- and meta-perceptions. Results of our qualitative analysis indicate that using bionic prostheses influences the social (self-) perception of bionics users in multiple ways, such that users describe themselves as being seen as more competent by others and treated differently after receiving the bionic prosthesis in comparison to simpler models. Results imply a somewhat complex dual identity among users in the sense that the bionic device instills competence, but disability-related feelings of stigma are present simultaneously. Despite being exploratory, our findings thus indicate that using bionic devices affects users' self-perception, stereotypes, and interpersonal perceptions. The ongoing proliferation of restoring devices and the introduction of augmenting technologies in future work contexts, for example, might thus have unintended social consequences that need to be accounted for. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:36:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-679053d116c449b791647a715e41d508 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0001-6918 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:36:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Psychologica |
| spelling | doaj.art-679053d116c449b791647a715e41d5082023-12-09T06:04:02ZengElsevierActa Psychologica0001-69182023-11-01241104085The impact of bionic prostheses on users' self-perceptions: A qualitative studyMaximilian Bretschneider0Bertolt Meyer1Frank Asbrock2Professorship of Work and Organizational Psychology, Department of Psychology, Chemnitz University of Technology, Germany; Professorship of Social Psychology, Department of Psychology, Chemnitz University of Technology, Germany; Corresponding author at: Department of Psychology, Chemnitz University of Technology, Germany.Professorship of Work and Organizational Psychology, Department of Psychology, Chemnitz University of Technology, GermanyProfessorship of Social Psychology, Department of Psychology, Chemnitz University of Technology, GermanyBionic devices for reestablishing or augmenting users' capabilities (e.g., bionic prostheses or exoskeletons) are becoming increasingly common. While prior research examined how such devices affect others' perceptions of their users, little is known about how these devices affect users' self-image and -perception, and the corresponding theory is scarce. To account for this gap, we conducted semi-structured interviews with users of bionic upper limb prostheses to obtain insights into their self- and meta-perceptions. Results of our qualitative analysis indicate that using bionic prostheses influences the social (self-) perception of bionics users in multiple ways, such that users describe themselves as being seen as more competent by others and treated differently after receiving the bionic prosthesis in comparison to simpler models. Results imply a somewhat complex dual identity among users in the sense that the bionic device instills competence, but disability-related feelings of stigma are present simultaneously. Despite being exploratory, our findings thus indicate that using bionic devices affects users' self-perception, stereotypes, and interpersonal perceptions. The ongoing proliferation of restoring devices and the introduction of augmenting technologies in future work contexts, for example, might thus have unintended social consequences that need to be accounted for.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691823002615Embodied digital technologiesBionicsProstheticsSelf- and other-perceptionStereotypesSocial interaction |
| spellingShingle | Maximilian Bretschneider Bertolt Meyer Frank Asbrock The impact of bionic prostheses on users' self-perceptions: A qualitative study Acta Psychologica Embodied digital technologies Bionics Prosthetics Self- and other-perception Stereotypes Social interaction |
| title | The impact of bionic prostheses on users' self-perceptions: A qualitative study |
| title_full | The impact of bionic prostheses on users' self-perceptions: A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | The impact of bionic prostheses on users' self-perceptions: A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of bionic prostheses on users' self-perceptions: A qualitative study |
| title_short | The impact of bionic prostheses on users' self-perceptions: A qualitative study |
| title_sort | impact of bionic prostheses on users self perceptions a qualitative study |
| topic | Embodied digital technologies Bionics Prosthetics Self- and other-perception Stereotypes Social interaction |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691823002615 |
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