Power in Human-Robot Interaction

Power is a fundamental determinant in social interactions, yet it remains elusive in the field of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI). This paper unveils the pervasive yet largely unexplored role of power in HRI by systematically investigating its varied manifestations across the HRI literature. We first introduce the definitions of power and then delve into the existing HRI literature through the lens of power, examining both the studies that directly address power and those that address power-related social configurations and concepts such as authority, dominance, and status. Leveraging Fiske’s model and French and Raven's bases of power framework, we also explore the nuances of power embedded within many HRI studies where power is not explicitly addressed. Finally, we propose power as the core concept to advance HRI---transforming fragmented existing findings into a unified theory and delineating a cohesive theoretical trajectory for future investigations. Along this line, we propose power factors and mechanisms exclusive to HRI and the need to redefine power for HRI.