Paper Number
ECIS2026-2886
Paper Type
CRP
Abstract
As a result of continuous progress in the field of artificial intelligence, deadbots offer the possibility of a digital afterlife. Due to their ability to simulate interactions with a deceased person, deadbots lead people form a bond with them and develop a parasocial preference for them. However, the IS literature lacks theories that explain the factors leading people to form an attachment to a deadbot. To address this gap, we apply attachment theory to human-chatbot interactions. We conducted two empirical studies and found that perceiving a deadbot as safe haven as well as proximity maintenance and separation distress contribute to the development of an attachment to the deadbot. Additionally, our results show that a strong attachment to a deadbot fosters the development of a parasocial preference for it, which is reinforced by users' psychological dependence on the deadbot.
Recommended Citation
Fröbel, Lara, "(A)Immortality: Understanding People's Motivation For Using A Deadbot and Developing A Parasocial Preference For It – An Empirical Analysis Based On Attachment Theory" (2026). ECIS 2026 Proceedings. 13.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2026/ai_anthro/ai_anthro/13
(A)Immortality: Understanding People's Motivation For Using A Deadbot and Developing A Parasocial Preference For It – An Empirical Analysis Based On Attachment Theory
As a result of continuous progress in the field of artificial intelligence, deadbots offer the possibility of a digital afterlife. Due to their ability to simulate interactions with a deceased person, deadbots lead people form a bond with them and develop a parasocial preference for them. However, the IS literature lacks theories that explain the factors leading people to form an attachment to a deadbot. To address this gap, we apply attachment theory to human-chatbot interactions. We conducted two empirical studies and found that perceiving a deadbot as safe haven as well as proximity maintenance and separation distress contribute to the development of an attachment to the deadbot. Additionally, our results show that a strong attachment to a deadbot fosters the development of a parasocial preference for it, which is reinforced by users' psychological dependence on the deadbot.
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