Italian Journal of Health Education, Sports and Inclusive Didactics
BETWEEN SIMULATED EMPATHY AND EMBODIED CARE: A COMPARATIVE REVIEW OF THE AFFECTIVE, RELATION AND PEDAGOGICAL DIMENSIONS IN AI-MEDIATED EDUCATION
Abstract
This paper falls within the field of artificial intelligence studies in education, analysing the transformation of the affective and relational dimensions of learning in the era of generative systems. The research investigates how recent literature compares simulated empathy and embodied care through a comparative review of articles published between 2022 and 2026, selected
from Scopus, Web of Science and PsycINFO. The corpus includes empirical and theoretical studies, as well as reviews on the socio-emotional dimension. The analysis is structured on two levels: forms of affective support and emotional responsiveness in artificial systems, and care as an embodied educational practice, based on
presence and reciprocity. The comparison highlights convergences and discontinuities, bringing to light the limitations of simulation. The aim is to clarify the role of AI in the educational relationship and to guide hybrid environments and teacher training.Keywords
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.32043/gsd.v10i3.1724
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Italian Journal of Health Education, Sports and Inclusive Didactics
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