Attitudes of artificial intelligence and artificial intelligence-based psychotherapies: A study involving three different fields

This study compares artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-based psychotherapy attitudes in different academic disciplines and investigates the relationship between help-seeking attitudes and these attitudes. The sample comprises third- and fourth-year Turkish psychology, computer engineering, and sociology students aged 20-30. The study was conducted with 229 participants. During data collection, an online survey was presented to participants. In survey, participants were provided with Informed Consent Form, Demographics Form, Turkish versions of General Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence Scale, Attitudes Towards Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale - Short Form, a short descriptive paragraph explaining AI-based psychotherapies, and Attitudes Toward AI-based Psychotherapy Scale in this order. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between groups in positive AI and AI-based psychotherapy attitudes. It was found that computer engineering students have a more positive AI and more positive AI-based psychotherapy attitude compared to psychology and sociology students. No significant difference was found between psychology and sociology students' positive AI and AI-based psychotherapy attitudes. When the help-seeking attitude was examined as a covariate, it was seen that the significant difference between groups in the AI-based psychotherapy attitude had disappeared. In other words, students' AI-based psychotherapy attitude may stem from their help-seeking attitudes. The results of this study are discussed along with their clinical implications, limitations, strengths, and suggestions for future studies in light of the literature. Keywords: artificial intelligence attitude, artificial intelligence-based psychotherapy attitude, help-seeking attitude.