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The Role Of Self-Referential Social Cues and Small Talk In Large Language Model-Based Health Coaching: Enhancing Anthropomorphism and User Trust
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- TRV-2026-2694raw data (JSON)
- Version
- v1Published
- First published
- Evidence type
- Controlled or validated comparison
- Sources
- 1 sourcePeer-reviewed
- sha256
- 05477ae3b11b…check it
This paper investigates the role of anthropomorphic design in Large Language Models (LLMs), particularly in the context of lifestyle behavior change coaching. This study examines how specific verbal social cues – namely small talk and self-referential social cues – affect user perceptions of anthropomorphism, trust, and eeriness. Findings from a 2x2 experiment show that self-referential social cues enhance perceptions of anthropomorphism, which in turn positively influence user trust. At the same time, the combi…
56Gain side
How the two sides scoreClose call
57Problem side
The gain
In a 2x2 experiment on an LLM lifestyle-coaching chatbot, self-referential social cues raised users' perception of the coach as humanlike, which in turn increased their trust in it.
The problem
In the same 2x2 lifestyle-coaching experiment, combining self-referential cues with small talk had adverse effects on user perceptions, suggesting an uncanny valley effect in text-based chat.
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P is the problem side, out of 100. It goes up when the problem is specific, when it measurably hurt people and when the sources behind it are strong.
Sources
1 on file- Journal of the Association for Information Systemsaisel.aisnet.org
Cite this record
v1Truvace Impact Record TRV-2026-2694, v1: “The Role Of Self-Referential Social Cues and Small Talk In Large Language Model-Based Health Coaching: Enhancing Anthropomorphism and User Trust.” Truvace, 2026-11-12. /record/TRV-2026-2694 (accessed on the day you copy it). sha256 05477ae3b11b789a…
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