Actual Self-disclosure to Anthropomorphic AI Chatbots: A Contextual Privacy Calculus Approach

Summary

This study examines whether anthropomorphic design in AI chatbots changes actual self-disclosure, not just stated intentions. An online experiment with 222 participants manipulated anthropomorphism and measured real disclosure behavior using an ANOVA test and Hayes's PROCESS macro analysis. Anthropomorphism reduced psychological social distance but may trigger the "uncanny valley" effect, privacy concerns reduced disclosure except under high-sensitivity conditions, and trust did not necessarily lead to disclosure.