The De Gruyter Handbook of Robots in Society and Culture

This comprehensive volume offers a groundbreaking examination of how social robots are reshaping human existence across every level, from individual psychology to global cultural systems. By integrating perspectives from sociology, communication studies, neuroscience, and political science, it provides a multidimensional analysis of how these machines acquire form, function, and meaning within human contexts. The handbook moves beyond technical specifications to explore the critical social implications of robotic technology as it becomes embedded in daily life, relationships, and institutional structures. This interdisciplinary approach reveals the complex ways robotic systems are transforming what it means to be human in an increasingly automated world.

What distinguishes this work is its refusal to treat robots as mere technological artifacts, instead positioning them as social actors that actively participate in cultural production and societal evolution. Readers interested in the ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence, the future of human-robot interaction, and the cultural assimilation of technology will find particularly valuable insights. The collection's strength lies in its ability to connect micro-level interactions between humans and machines to macro-level societal transformations, offering a crucial framework for understanding our rapidly changing technological landscape. This handbook establishes itself as an essential resource for anyone seeking to comprehend the profound social and cultural revolutions underway as robots become permanent fixtures in our collective experience.