Future of Sex
tagline
  • Remote Sex
  • Virtual Sex & Entertainment
  • Robots
  • Human Augmentation
  • Sex Tech
  • Dating & Relationships
  • Bizarre Bazaar 18+
  • Future of Sex Community
  • Remote Sex
  • Virtual Sex & Entertainment
  • Robots
  • Human Augmentation
  • Sex Tech
  • Dating & Relationships
  • Bizarre Bazaar 18+
  • Future of Sex Community
  • Machinery of Joy: Is AI Already Making Sexwork Obsolete?

  • Tomorrow’s Programmable Matter Sextoys Will Be Everything We Want—Whenever We Want It

  • Men’s Only Club: Does the Synthetic Companion Industry Really Have a Sexism Problem?

  • Red States, Risqué Secrets: Who’s Really Obsessing Over Sex?

  • No Hentai, Please: Japan Prosecutes AI Porn Prompters

  • Out of Sight, Out of Touch? Sweden Moves to Ban Adult Cam Performers

  • Spin Me Right Round: Cupsland’s Twirl Does Everything A Stroker Should—And More

  • We-Vibe Sextech Report: Talk, Grab a Toy, and Enjoy

Future of Sex is supported by our readers. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Home > Robots > Bots with Benefits? Study Shows Women Seek Robot Friendships, Men Prefer Sexbots

Robots
Home›Robots›Bots with Benefits? Study Shows Women Seek Robot Friendships, Men Prefer Sexbots

Bots with Benefits? Study Shows Women Seek Robot Friendships, Men Prefer Sexbots

By Connor Leshner
November 20, 2021
1398
0

Examining the links between gender and social dominance in relationship style.

Image of robot walking with men and women shadows in background

How does gender influence the likelihood of someone preferring friendship over a sexual relationship with a robot?

In an earlier article, I discussed my thesis findings that indicated a positive effect between a participant’s level of hostile sexist beliefs and their interest in robot sex partners. 

As part of this study, I also looked into the gender differences regarding who might want a robot, and if participant sex could be a predictor of engagement with robots.

Here, I will share my findings from this section on gender and how it intersects with social dominance and relationship preference. If you would like more information, the full article “Technically in love: individual differences in desire for intimacy with robots” is available to read for free on Google Scholar.

Robo-friendships, sex, and gender

Participants were students from a university in Western Canada. The sample was about ¾ women, and about ¼ men. While non-binary participants also responded, there were too few responses to draw any conclusions from. The average age of participants was about 21. 

The questions examined questions about whether people would think robots would make good friends, and if people might want to have sex with robots. Male participants responded that they would be more interested in sex with robots than women. Female participants were higher than male participants in their interest in robot friendship. This finding suggests that there may be a sex difference between wanting sex with a robot, and wanting friendship with a robot.

The role of social dominance

Image of shadows of men and women in background

An important caveat was related to the variable “social dominance orientation”. Someone who scores low on social dominance orientation is likely to believe in group equality, while someone who scores higher will believe some groups are less-deserving than others. 

At low levels of social dominance orientation, men were more interested in sex with robots, and women were more interested in friendship with robots. However, for women who were higher on social dominance orientation, they were more interested in sex with robots, and about equal with men (women’s scores were higher, men’s scores were the same regardless of beliefs). 

For both men and women who were high on social dominance orientation, there was equal interest in friendship with robots (women’s scores came down, men’s scores went up). 

Overall, in this sample, men were more interested in sex with robots, and women were more interested in friendship with robots. While social dominance orientation affected women’s interest, women were, on average, lower on social dominance orientation, so overall, they were less interested in sex with robots. 

What this suggests is that social dominance orientation might play a role for both men and women, in that they view robots as a different group. If they view robots as lesser, they might be open to using robots for sex and friendship.

Women might be more interested in sex with robots if they can use them like a sex toy, while men seemed as interested regardless of social dominance orientation.

At the same time, higher scores on social dominance orientation suggested less female interest and more male interest in robot friendship. This could mean that women may want to have equal status among friends, while men might prefer unequal status among friends. Further research will have to unpack these findings, as this is just the first in what I anticipate will become an interesting direction in human-robot research. 

These findings were presented at the International Congress on Love and Sex with Robots. To support research in this area by a variety of impressive academics and sex tech researchers, I hope you will visit the congress website to learn more and join us at future conferences.

Image source: DrSJS, Gerd Altmann

Connor Leshner

Connor Leshner is a graduate student at the University of Victoria, studying how people connect both through and with technology. His work focuses on dating apps, sex technology, and relationships that break the status quo. Currently, he is researching how people may be interested in AI partners in the future, such as if people will want artificial friends, romance, or sex partners.

As an undergraduate at Arizona State University, Connor completed undergraduate degrees in Psychology, Sociology and a minor in Women & Gender Studies in 2018. He also graduated with honors, completing his thesis understanding how cosplay plays a role in relationship differences. For this thesis, he was awarded with his department’s award in applied social psychology, and his honor college’s gold standard research award.

As a graduate student, Connor has won awards for his research and excellence in presentation. He has given talks on speed-dating, hentai, and different groups such as bronies, furries, and anime fans. He has also written or co-written multiple papers, including papers comparing polyamory to dyadic relationships, how playing characters might affect one’s identity, and more.
Previous Article

Lovense Gush: You Can Now Buy the ...

Next Article

Sex Tech News: NYC Subways Allow Sex ...

Related articles More from author

  • Robots

    Forget Sexbots! Soft Wearables Are the Real Future of Sex Tech

    May 15, 2019
    By M. Christian
  • Image of Emma the AI bot.
    Dating & RelationshipsRobots

    Will Young Women of the Future Feel Pressure to Perform Like Robots?

    October 20, 2022
    By Yulia Gavrilova
  • Robots

    Future of Sex Doll ‘Brothels’ Looks Bright As Paris Venue Evades Closure

    April 11, 2018
    By M. Christian
  • A robot helps a woman put on her shoe.
    Robots

    Sexbot Perspectives: Robots Will Make Sex Easier for People with Mobility Issues

    September 1, 2016
    By Jenna Owsianik
  • Robots

    RealDoll CEO Will Keynote Controversial ‘Love and Sex with Robots’ Conference

    September 8, 2018
    By M. Christian
  • hotel window sexy silhouette
    Dating & RelationshipsRobots

    Desire for Casual Sex May Predict Less Interest in Sex Robots

    December 20, 2021
    By Connor Leshner

  • AI-Sex-robot-Emma
    Robots

    State of Sex Robots: These Are the Companies Developing Robotic Lovers [UPDATED]

  • Porn for TV logo (computer screen graphic with pink u shapes and a mouse cursor).
    Virtual Sex & Entertainment

    Sex Tech News: New VR Sex Game, a User-Generated Erotica App and ‘Porn for TV’ Streaming Relaunches

  • Virtual Sex & EntertainmentVirtual Sex

    MotionSwinger Kinect Virtual Sex Game is a Hoax

Virtual Lust is a 3D interactive sex game.
3DXChat
Discover the best virtual sex parties and 3D sex worlds.
  • TOP REVIEWS

  • Realistic Sex Games

    Review of the Best Sex Games and Most Realistic Sex Simulators [UPDATED]

    0
  • Screenshot of a sexbot from adult entertainment game

    The Best Adult Games on Steam [UPDATED]

  • Screenshot of FeelConnect app future of interactivity intimacy available on Apple and Google Store

    The Best Sex Game Apps for Couples [UPDATED]

  • Project QT is the most popular RPG sex game at hentai sex game portal Nutaku.

    The Best RPG Sex Games [UPDATED]

  • Multiplayer Online Sex Games

    Review of the Best Massively Multiplayer Online Sex Games

    0
Fantasy sex game Dream Sex World lets you explore your wildest desires.
Multiplayer sex world Red Light Center continues to impress with its massive userbase and incredible sex graphics.
A blonde and light-skinned love doll face sppears next to the text Go now realdollxthe future is real.

Like Us on Facebook

Newsletter Subscription

Sign up for our monthly newsletter sharing the very best of the future of sex from our publication and others across the web.

DreamSexWorld offers a stunning XXX 3D world filled with incredibly interactive erotic experiences.

Like Us On Facebook

Facebook Pagelike Widget

RLC_ad_v2

Tweets by @FutureofSex
Future of Sex Report

Follow us

  • Home
  • About
  • ADVERTISE
  • Contribute
  • Story Ideas
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2011 - 2022 Future Exploration Network
This website or its third-party tools use cookies to improve user experience and track affiliate sales. To learn more about why we need to use cookies, please refer to the Privacy Policy.

By clicking the agree button or continuing to browse through the website, you agree to the use of cookies. Accept Privacy Policy
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT