The concept of embodied artificial intelligence (EAI), along with advancements in robotic technologies, is enabling the possibility of multi-functional household service robots (HSRs) entering numerous households in the foreseeable future. Users’ attitudes toward accepting or resisting an intelligent human-like robot depend not only on its functionality and performance, but also on potential identity threats posed by its human-like competencies and the available coping strategies in response. This study explored the role of three types of identity threats, i.e., worth-based social identity, competence-based role identity, and authenticity-based personal identity, further examined their influences on individuals’ intentions to use or resist toward robots through six types of coping mechanisms, categorized into two response types, i.e., protecting or restructuring their identities. With data collected from 306 potential users, the results indicated that perceived threats to users’ self-identities activated five out of the six coping mechanisms, which, in turn, influenced their attitudes toward accepting or resisting the robots. This study contributes to the current literature by introducing the theory of identity threats to the field of technology acceptance and resistance, providing insights into the psychological consequences of EAI-based features and competencies in shaping potential users’ attitudes and behaviors toward using household service robots.
