that, after multiple uses, might query the user with a message such as “You
have enjoyed playing this game ten times. Why not pay back the favor and
register?”
Persuading by Adopting Social Roles
In the mid-1960s, MIT’s Joseph Weizenbaum created ELIZA, a computer pro
-
gram that acted in the role of a psychotherapist. ELIZA was a relatively simple
program, with less than 300 lines of code. It was designed to replicate the initial
interview a therapist would have with a patient. A person could type in “I have
a problem,” and ELIZA would respond in text, “Can you elaborate on that?”
The exchange would continue, with ELIZA continuing to portray the role of a
therapist.
The impact of a computer adopting this human role surprised many, includ-
ing Weizenbaum. ...