Anthropomorphism as a Foundation: Establishing Emotional Attachment in Human-Chatbot Relationships

Abstract: Chatbots have become integral to Internet-based Self-help Interventions (ISIs), yet the mechanisms driving human–chatbot emotional connections remain underexplored. While existing frameworks address Human–Chatbot Relationships (HCRs), the mechanisms underlying the formation of emotional attachment remain inadequately clarified.This study investigates the emotional bond establishment process between users and chatbots, proposing a five-stage model grounded in anthropomorphism: 1) Utilitarian Value Judgment, 2) Basic Needs Satisfaction, 3) Emotional Value Judgment, 4) Emotional Construction (comprising two sub-stages: emotional identification and emotional dependence), and 5) Emotional Attachment Formation. To further advance HCRs scholarship, future research should integrate zoomorphism to refine HCRs theory, analyze the developmental trajectory from emotional attachment to digital therapeutic alliances, and identify key factors shaping these human-chatbot relational dynamics.