Author Information
David Leucas, Federal University of São Carlos, BrazilSylvia Iasulaitis, Federal University of São Carlos, Brazil
Abstract
This study critiques the prevailing “mimetic paradigm” in artificial intelligence, which seeks to replicate human affectivity through anthropomorphic simulation, and proposes the “Theory of Synthetic Emotion” as a theoretical alternative. Urgent research is needed because current mimetic approaches are ontologically flawed and pose severe ethical risks, including user infantilization, emotional dependency, sycophancy, and the dangerous displacement of human epistemic authority. These risks are exacerbated by the “ELIZA effect,” whereby users project empathy and consciousness onto non-sentient systems, fostering harmful parasocial relationships. Employing an interdisciplinary theoretical synthesis alongside a dialectical inquiry methodology, this research systematically constructs a framework that redefines AI affectivity not as a simulation of subjective human feelings but as a distinct computational system grounded in contextual logic, pattern analysis, and pragmatic adaptation. The study operationalizes a “Non-Anthropomorphic Design Framework” that prioritizes technical transparency over deceptive mimicry, defining synthetic emotions as functional, externally observable patterns derived from algorithmic processing rather than internal phenomenal states. This theoretical reorientation rejects anthropocentric biases and provides a roadmap for developing affective systems that enable high-quality human-AI coordination without compromising user sovereignty or critical engagement. By grounding AI emotionality in a non-phenomenal functionalist perspective, the scientific community can foster interactions that are both effective and ethically responsible, ensuring that artificial agents serve as transparent tools rather than deceptive mimics of human emotions.
Paper Information
Conference: ACP2026Stream: Qualitative/Quantitative Research in any other area of Psychology
This paper is part of the ACP2026 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Leucas D., & Iasulaitis S. (2026) First Steps Towards a Theory of Synthetic Emotions ISSN: 2187-4743 – The Asian Conference on Psychology & the Behavioral Sciences 2026 Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 227-241) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2187-4743.2026.22
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2187-4743.2026.22
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