@inproceedings{TostFlechtnerMau{\´e}etal.2024,
  author    = {Tost, Jordi and Flechtner, Rahel and Mau{\´e}, Rahel and Heidmann, Frank},
  title     = {Caring for a companion as a form of self-care},
  booktitle = {Live - Uniting HCI for a Hyperlocal and Global Experience : Proceedings of the 13th Nordic Conference on Human-Computer Interaction},
  editor    = {Uppsala University, and Ume{\aa} University,},
  publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery},
  address   = {New York},
  isbn      = {979-8-4007-0966-1},
  doi       = {10.1145/3679318.3685343},
  institution = {FB1 Sozial- und Bildungswissenschaften; FB4 Design; Inst. f{\"u}r angewandte Forschung Urbane Zukunft (IaF)},
  pages     = {10},
  year      = {2024},
  abstract  = {This paper presents an approach to designing companion technologies for mental health based on a case study on social anxiety disorder (SAD). We highlight the potential of an irritating dimension of user experience and propose including irritating qualities in companions as a strategy to disrupt patterns of behavior and thought, support perspective change, and expand an individual's comfort zone. Taking the Tamagotchi as a counterpoint to assisting technologies and combining frameworks and concepts from psychology and HCI, we propose the grounding metaphor of 'caring for the companion as a form of self-care,' arguing the potential of building reciprocal care relationships as a means by which to support emotional attachment and establish healthy routines. In this paper, we introduce this grounding metaphor and a set of principles for fostering positive irritations. Our framework provides a basis for exploring and developing novel paradigms and poses future directions for HCI.},
  subject      = {Angstst{\"o}rung},
  language  = {en}
}