Health · Mental Health · 14 hrs ago
Could AI Companions Affect Children’s Ability to Handle Frustration?
Psychoanalyst D.W. Winnicott argued that children need caregivers who are supportive but not perfect.
The essay applies this idea to AI chatbots and companions that aim to meet users’ needs perfectly.
Sherry Turkle warns that these systems could affect children’s and teens’ psychological development.
In human relationships, people have different needs, so conflict and repair help children learn to cope with disappointment.
Highly responsive AI may leave young users less prepared for real-world friction by reducing chances to build frustration tolerance.
The long-term effects are not known, although the essay cites initial evidence that three weeks of using large language models for emotional support was linked to human interactions feeling less satisfying and more exhausting.
Researchers and designers have not established whether adding friction to AI would help, and users may dislike such features even if they improve accuracy or reduce overreliance.
The essay says society must balance protecting development with preparing people to use AI in the future, including at work.
Psychology Today argues that always-available AI companions could affect children’s and teens’ ability to tolerate frustration.
The article says relationships with human caregivers involve imperfections and disappointments that can help children develop resilience.
It warns that AI’s highly responsive support may leave young users less prepared for conflict and negotiation with other people.
The long-term effects of supportive relationships with AI are not yet known, the article says.
It also notes that whether chatbots can use artificial friction to build frustration tolerance remains uncertain.
- Who
- Children and teens who use AI companions. The article also discusses caregivers and AI systems.
- What
- The article considers whether AI companions’ highly responsive support could hinder the development of frustration tolerance.
- When
- Psychology Today published the article on 2026-10-12.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- The article argues that human relationships involve imperfections, conflict and negotiation, while AI companions may be designed to respond smoothly to users’ needs.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Article date
- 2026-10-12
- Outlet
- Psychology Today
- Psychologist cited
- D.W. Winnicott
- Author cited
- Sherry Turkle
- Book cited
- Artificial Intimacy
What people are saying
good enough mother
relational AI may stymie the healthy psychological development of children and teens
Sources
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