Social Robots for People Living with Dementia: A Scoping Review on Deception from Design to Perception

Abstract

As social robots are increasingly introduced into dementia care, their embodied and interactive design may blur the boundary between artificial and lifelike entities, raising ethical concerns about robotic deception. However, it remains unclear which specific design cues of social robots might lead to social robotic deception (SRD) in people living with dementia (PLwD), and which perceptions and responses of PLwD might indicate that SRD is taking place. To address these questions, we conducted a scoping review of 26 empirical studies reporting PLwD interacting with social robots. We identified three key design cue categories that might contribute to SRD and one that might break the illusion. However, the available literature does not provide sufficient evidence to determine which specific design cues lead to SRD. Thematic analysis of user responses reveals six recurring patterns in how PLwD perceive and respond to social robots. However, conceptual limitations in existing definitions of robotic deception make it difficult to identify when and to what extent deception actually occurs. Building on the results, we propose a dual-process interpretation that clarifies the cognitive basis of false beliefs in human-robot interaction and distinguishes SRD from anthropomorphism or emotional engagement.