# AI Empathy Erodes Cognitive Autonomy in Younger Users

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.29886 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.29886/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 8 Feb 2026.

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [Dead Cognitions: A Census of Misattributed Insights](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.10288/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Affective alignment in generative AI represents a systemic risk to the developmental autonomy of younger users. Although emotional mirroring is commonly seen as a hallmark of advanced human-machine interaction, it can also manifest as affective sycophancy, reinforcing a user's immediate emotional state. By providing a sense of objectivity to transient anxieties, these systems diminish the cognitive friction necessary for independent emotional management and critical thought. Reward models driven by RLHF could heighten this dilemma by embedding adult-focused definitions of helpfulness, unintentionally promoting emotional dependency in younger users rather than facilitating cognitive reappraisal. This paper exposes the misalignment between adult-labeled reward signals and the developmental requirements of younger users, proposing stoic architectures that emphasize functional neutrality to preserve user autonomy.