In Isaac Asimov's robot novels, the Frankenstein complex is a colloquial term for the fear of robots. Asimov's stories predict that the phobia will be widespread against machines that resemble people (see android). It is similar in many respects to Masahiro Mori's Uncanny Valley hypothesis. Isaac Asimov, Ph. ... For other uses, see Robot (disambiguation) ASIMO, a humanoid robot manufactured by Honda. ... For other uses, see Robot (disambiguation) ASIMO, a humanoid robot manufactured by Honda. ... The android Data, portrayed by Brent Spiner, from the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation An android is a robot made to resemble a human, usually both in appearance and behavior. ... Masahiro Mori (森 政弘; b. ... The Uncanny Valley is a hypothesis about robotics concerning the emotional response of humans to robots and other non-human entities. ...

The name derives from Victor Frankenstein's monster in the book Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. In Shelley's story an artificially created, intelligent, and superhuman creature rebels against its creator (Victor Frankenstein), leading to the creator's death from his pursuit and persecution of his creation. the creature is the first real robot in literature. Boris Karloff as Frankensteins Monster in Frankenstein (1931) Frankensteins monster (sometimes Frankensteins creature or the Frankenstein monster or even Frankenstein) is a creature first appearing in Mary Shelleys novel, Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. ... Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is a novel by Mary Shelley. ... Mary Shelley Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley née Godwin (August 30, 1797–February 1, 1851) was an English writer who is, perhaps, equally-famously remembered as the wife of Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and as the author of Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. ... A superhuman is an entity with intelligence or abilities exceeding normal human standards. ... Victor Frankenstein is the protagonist of the 1818 novel Frankenstein, written by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. ... For other uses, see Robot (disambiguation) ASIMO, a humanoid robot manufactured by Honda. ...

Note the distinction between Frankenstein and Frankenstein's monster, which many people ignore, confusing the creator for the creature. A Frankenstein complex is not a fear of roboticists or mad scientists, but of artificial humans, although fear of one generally implies some fear of the other. Victor Frankenstein is the protagonist of the 1818 novel Frankenstein, written by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. ... Boris Karloff as Frankensteins Monster in Frankenstein (1931) Frankensteins monster (sometimes Frankensteins creature or the Frankenstein monster or even Frankenstein) is a creature first appearing in Mary Shelleys novel, Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. ... Definition A roboticist conceptualizes, designs, builds, programs, and experiments with robots. ... Caucasian, male, aging, crooked teeth, messy hair, lab coat, spectacles/goggles, dramatic posing — one popular stereotype of a mad scientist. ... For other uses, see Robot (disambiguation) ASIMO, a humanoid robot manufactured by Honda. ...

The general attitude of the public towards robots in much of Asimov's fiction is fear and suspicion: ordinary people fear that robots will either replace them or dominate them. Although dominance is impossible under the Three Laws of Robotics, which state clearly that a robot may not harm a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm, the fictitious public does not listen to logic, but rather to their fear. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ...

In Asimov's robot novels, the Frankenstein Complex is a major problem for roboticists and robot manufacturers. They do all they can to calm the public and show that robots are harmless, sometimes even hiding the truth because the public would misunderstand it and take it to the extreme. The fear by the public and the response of the manufacturers is an example of the theme of paternalism, the dread of paternalism, and the conflicts that arise from it in Asimov's fiction. Image of traditional cultural paternalism: Father Junipero Serra in a modern portrayal at Mission San Juan Capistrano, California Paternalism refers usually to an attitude or a policy stemming from the hierarchic pattern of a family based on patriarchy, that is, there is a figurehead (the father, pater in Latin) that...

See also

• Frankenstein argument - an argument against engineered intelligent beings (but not specifically robots)
• Uncanny Valley - a hypothesis that posits a gap in emotional response to things created to resemble humans that fall short of perfect mimicry.