---
type: source
id: wang-2015-uv-existence-explanations
title: 'The uncanny valley: Existence and explanations'
authors:
- Shensheng Wang
- Scott O. Lilienfeld
- Philippe Rochat
year: 2015
venue: Review of General Psychology
volume: 19(4)
pages: 393-407
doi: 10.1037/gpr0000056
peer_review: peer-reviewed-journal
evidence_tier: C
design: Theoretical review; proposes the dehumanization hypothesis
modality:
- review
stimuli: n/a
n_participants: null
n_note: review
topics:
- uncanny-valley
- mechanisms
- theory
summary: Proposes that humanlike agents are first processed as human; detecting non-human cues then triggers dehumanization, which produces eeriness.
results:
- metric: Dehumanization hypothesis
  value: proposed
  note: few direct tests
  source_location: null
moderators: []
limitations:
- Theory, not data
mechanism_supported:
- dehumanization
verification:
  status: unverified
  confidence: high
  checked: null
  via: compiler knowledge
url: null
pmid: null
pmcid: null
arxiv_id: null
openalex_id: null
oa_url: null
cited_in:
- MR-0002
updated: '2026-10-07'
---

# The uncanny valley: Existence and explanations

> **Source record** `wang-2015-uv-existence-explanations` · 2015 · Review of General Psychology  
> **Evidence tier:** C (peer-reviewed-journal) · **Verification:** unverified (compiler confidence: high)  
> **Bottom line:** Proposes that humanlike agents are first processed as human; detecting non-human cues then triggers dehumanization, which produces eeriness.

## Citation {#citation}

Shensheng Wang, Scott O. Lilienfeld, Philippe Rochat (2015). The uncanny valley: Existence and explanations. *Review of General Psychology*, 19(4), 393-407. https://doi.org/10.1037/gpr0000056

Verification entry (identifiers, resolvers, claims with source locations): [/data/citations.json#wang-2015-uv-existence-explanations](/data/citations.json#wang-2015-uv-existence-explanations)

## Study design {#design}

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Design | Theoretical review; proposes the dehumanization hypothesis |
| Modality | review |
| Stimuli | n/a |
| Participants (N) | not recorded |
| N detail | review |
| Topics | uncanny-valley, mechanisms, theory |

## Results {#results}

| Metric | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dehumanization hypothesis | proposed | few direct tests |

## Mechanism relevance {#mechanism}

`dehumanization`

## Limitations {#limitations}

- Theory, not data

## Cited in {#cited-in}

- [MR-0002](/metareports/uncanny-valley-and-synthetic-faces.md): The Uncanny Valley and Synthetic Media: Does It Exist, What Causes It, and Have Deepfakes Crossed It?

## Verification {#verification}

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | `unverified` |
| Compiler confidence | high |
| Checked on | — |
| Via | compiler knowledge |

Values on this page have not all been checked against the full text. Confirm them against the primary source before high-stakes use.