Trust and emotions in domestic robots: do gender preferences favor machine-like designs?

Abstract This study explores how emotional and gender-related factors shape trust in domestic robots, drawing on a representative survey of 2010 residents in Spain. Participants responded to hypothetical, text-based scenarios involving three robot types—humanoid, semi-humanoid, and machine-like-performing caregiving tasks primarily in the home. The results reveal a consistent pattern: machine-like robots inspire the highest levels of trust. Women, in particular, express lower trust in human-like robots, often accompanied by feelings of unease or fear. These findings challenge common assumptions in human–robot interaction and cast doubt on the predictive value of the uncanny valley hypothesis in domestic contexts. A strong preference for gender-neutral robots—especially among women—suggests growing resistance to stereotyped designs. Grounded in affective robotics, feminist robotics, and trust research, the paper advocates for inclusive, culturally sensitive robot design in emotionally significant domains such as care. Limitations, including the use of non-visual stimuli, are acknowledged, and future experimental research is recommended to deepen understanding of trust and emotion in human–robot interactions.