Research on mapping psychological impacts of interactional systems on our cognitions, sociality, emotions and behaviors
How do interactive systems affect our health? What cognitive and behavioral changes result from AI and XR? How can we navigate impact?
About the Project
The Psychological Impact Spectra for Interactional Systems project introduces a framework to evaluate how systems like games, XR (VR/AR), recommender systems, and LLMs shape human psychology. As these technologies permeate education, work, health, and social life, their impacts, often mixed and context-dependent, require nuanced understanding.
Using an interdisciplinary, persona-based workshop method, 29 experts from Europe, North America, and Oceania (across psychology, design, UX, neuroscience, and ethics) explored these effects through fictional personas, capturing diverse cultural and socioeconomic views. This revealed impacts across four domains: social, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral. The project defines six Psychological Impact Spectra: Social Connectedness & Belonging; Agency & Autonomy; Cognitive Load & Focus; Emotional Well-being & Regulation; Identity Integrity & Self-Expression; and Self-Regulation & Boundary Management. These spectra map positive–negative continua and support future measurement, though cross-cultural validation remains essential.
Overall, the research supports responsible design and policy by offering a structured way to assess psychological impacts, aiming to foster technologies that enhance well-being while minimizing harm.
About the Fellow
Auxane Boch is associate research director at the Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence at TUM. She studies how XR, games, and AI reshape minds, exploring their psychological and ethical impacts. As a cyberpsychologist, she creates frameworks for responsible tech governance that promote human flourishing.
