IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v12y2025i1d10.1057_s41599-025-04430-w.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A bibliometric analysis of publications on the ethical considerations of sex robots (2003‒2022)

Author

Listed:
  • Yan Tang

    (Anhui Vocational College of Police Officers)

  • Na Zhang

    (Anhui Vocational College of Police Officers)

  • Shen Liu

    (Anhui Agricultural University)

Abstract

Robots play a crucial role in society, with pioneers like Joseph Engelberger envisioning their use beyond factory settings as early as 1989. The development of sex robots, stemming from the sex industry’s adoption of new technologies, represents one of the most ethically complex applications of robotics. Integrating them into society raises numerous moral challenges, intersecting with sociology, philosophy, and psychology. To address these ethical dilemmas, this study employed bibliometric tools to map research trends and patterns, aiming to provide a clearer understanding of the issues surrounding sex robots and propose potential solutions. The Web of Science database contained 1010 publications on sex robots published between 2003 and 2022 that met the search criteria. The annual publication volume on the topic of sex robots has increased significantly over the 2003‒2022 timeframe. Jan Peters and Atsuo Takanishi are the authors who have published the most research on the topic of sex robots. The journal with the highest publication volume on sex robots among the top 10 journals is the International Journal of Social Robotics. Over the past 20 years, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique has published the most research on the topic of sex robots. The United States has the highest influence in the field of sex robot research. Emerging keywords such as “sex robot,” “social robot,” “therapy,” and “trust” have gained significant popularity, as evidenced by an increase in references and citations in the literature. Utilizing visual mapping techniques and an analysis of key publications, this study describes the latest ideas and development directions within the field of sex robots research, providing insights into the growing trends in this domain.

Suggested Citation

  • Yan Tang & Na Zhang & Shen Liu, 2025. "A bibliometric analysis of publications on the ethical considerations of sex robots (2003‒2022)," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-04430-w
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-04430-w
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-025-04430-w
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-025-04430-w?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Foo Nin Ho & Nga Ho-Dac & J. Sonia Huang, 2023. "The Effects of Privacy and Data Breaches on Consumers’ Online Self-Disclosure, Protection Behavior, and Message Valence," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, July.
    2. Kevin W. Boyack & Richard Klavans, 2010. "Co-citation analysis, bibliographic coupling, and direct citation: Which citation approach represents the research front most accurately?," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 61(12), pages 2389-2404, December.
    3. Yixue Han & Yulin Luo & Zhuohong Chen & Nan Gao & Yangyang Song & Shen Liu, 2024. "A decade of love: mapping the landscape of romantic love research through bibliometric analysis," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Daniel J. Power & Ciara Heavin & Yvonne O’Connor, 2021. "Balancing privacy rights and surveillance analytics: a decision process guide," Journal of Business Analytics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 4(2), pages 155-170, July.
    5. Kevin W. Boyack & Richard Klavans, 2010. "Co‐citation analysis, bibliographic coupling, and direct citation: Which citation approach represents the research front most accurately?," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 61(12), pages 2389-2404, December.
    6. Russell Belk, 2021. "Ethical issues in service robotics and artificial intelligence," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(13-14), pages 860-876, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Guan-Can Yang & Gang Li & Chun-Ya Li & Yun-Hua Zhao & Jing Zhang & Tong Liu & Dar-Zen Chen & Mu-Hsuan Huang, 2015. "Using the comprehensive patent citation network (CPC) to evaluate patent value," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 105(3), pages 1319-1346, December.
    2. Tuba Bircan & Almila Alkim Akdag Salah, 2022. "A Bibliometric Analysis of the Use of Artificial Intelligence Technologies for Social Sciences," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(23), pages 1-17, November.
    3. Nina Sakinah Ahmad Rofaie & Seuk Wai Phoong & Muzalwana Abdul Talib & Ainin Sulaiman, 2023. "Light-emitting diode (LED) research: A bibliometric analysis during 2003–2018," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 173-191, February.
    4. Serhat Burmaoglu & Ozcan Saritas, 2019. "An evolutionary analysis of the innovation policy domain: Is there a paradigm shift?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 118(3), pages 823-847, March.
    5. Rey-Long Liu, 2017. "A new bibliographic coupling measure with descriptive capability," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 110(2), pages 915-935, February.
    6. Yulei Xie & Ling Ji & Beibei Zhang & Gordon Huang, 2018. "Evolution of the Scientific Literature on Input–Output Analysis: A Bibliometric Analysis of 1990–2017," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-17, September.
    7. Perez-Vega, Rodrigo & Hopkinson, Paul & Singhal, Aishwarya & Mariani, Marcello M., 2022. "From CRM to social CRM: A bibliometric review and research agenda for consumer research," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 1-16.
    8. Chris W. Belter, 2013. "A bibliometric analysis of NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 95(2), pages 629-644, May.
    9. Ding, Ying, 2011. "Community detection: Topological vs. topical," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 5(4), pages 498-514.
    10. Xinhai Liu & Wolfgang Glänzel & Bart De Moor, 2011. "Hybrid clustering of multi-view data via Tucker-2 model and its application," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 88(3), pages 819-839, September.
    11. Yu-Wei Chang & Mu-Hsuan Huang & Chiao-Wen Lin, 2015. "Evolution of research subjects in library and information science based on keyword, bibliographical coupling, and co-citation analyses," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 105(3), pages 2071-2087, December.
    12. Paul Donner, 2021. "Validation of the Astro dataset clustering solutions with external data," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(2), pages 1619-1645, February.
    13. Xuefeng Wang & Shuo Zhang & Yuqin liu, 2022. "ITGInsight–discovering and visualizing research fronts in the scientific literature," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(11), pages 6509-6531, November.
    14. repec:ehu:cuader:55444 is not listed on IDEAS
    15. Ahmad, Farhan & Bask, Anu & Laari, Sini & Robinson, Craig V., 2023. "Business management perspectives on the circular economy: Present state and future directions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    16. Ying Huang & Wolfgang Glänzel & Lin Zhang, 2021. "Tracing the development of mapping knowledge domains," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(7), pages 6201-6224, July.
    17. Zamani, Mehdi & Yalcin, Haydar & Naeini, Ali Bonyadi & Zeba, Gordana & Daim, Tugrul U, 2022. "Developing metrics for emerging technologies: identification and assessment," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    18. Li, Heyang & Wu, Meijun & Wang, Yougui & Zeng, An, 2022. "Bibliographic coupling networks reveal the advantage of diversification in scientific projects," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 16(3).
    19. Rai, Varun Kumar & Bruna, Maria Giuseppina & Hunjra, Ahmed Imran & Pandey, Dharen Kumar & Lal, Madan, 2024. "COVID-19 literature in Elsevier finance journal ecosystem," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    20. Kajikawa, Yuya & Mejia, Cristian & Wu, Mengjia & Zhang, Yi, 2022. "Academic landscape of Technological Forecasting and Social Change through citation network and topic analyses," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    21. Natália L. Figueiredo & João J. M. Ferreira, 2022. "More than meets the partner: a systematic review and agenda for University–Industry cooperation," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 72(1), pages 231-273, February.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-04430-w. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.nature.com/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.