THE INFLUENCE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING: AN INTEGRATIVE ANALYSIS OF RECENT RESEARCH
THE INFLUENCE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING: AN INTEGRATIVE ANALYSIS OF RECENT RESEARCH

Summary/Abstract: The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) across multiple domains of everyday life has generated significant transformations in how individuals process information, regulate emotions, and engage in social interactions. This article provides an integrative analysis of recent empirical research examining the psychological impact of AI on human functioning, focusing on four central dimensions: cognitive processes and emotional dynamics associated with human–AI interaction; the relational transformations generated by the anthropomorphization of intelligent systems; the implications of AI use for learning and motivation; the consequences for mental health, as well as the ethical and regulatory challenges related to the integration of these technologies into everyday life. The literature analysis indicates that interaction with AI systems can enhance cognitive performance, motivational engagement, and emotional support in specific contexts. However, in the absence of adequate self-regulation mechanisms, AI use may also foster cognitive dependency, reduced decisional autonomy, and distortions in social relatedness. The findings further highlight the central role of anthropomorphism and perceived social presence in shaping trust, emotional engagement, and behavioral responses toward intelligent agents, as well as the moderating influence of individual and contextual factors on psychological outcomes. In applied fields such as education and mental health, AI emerges as a potentially valuable supportive tool, yet it cannot substitute fundamental human psychological and relational processes. Overall, the review underscores the ambivalent nature of AI’s psychological effects and calls for integrated theoretical frameworks, longitudinal research designs, and ethically grounded guidelines to ensure human-centered and psychologically sustainable AI development.

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