O MEDO DA SUBSTITUIÇÃO PELA IA: EFEITOS EMOCIONAIS E IDENTITÁRIOS EM PSICÓLOGOS NA ERA DIGITAL

Área temática: Ética e Sociedade

Abstract

The growing implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in mental health practices has raised concerns among psychology professionals, as there is an increasing perception that such technologies may, in fact, jeopardize their professional roles. This study aimed to analyze the emotional repercussions arising from this fear and its implications for the professional identity of psychologists. A qualitative approach was adopted through a narrative review of contemporary scientific literature. Documents from the Portuguese Psychologists’ Association were examined, along with local research exploring the intersection between artificial intelligence and mental health. The evaluation revealed that the fear of being replaced by technology is associated with emotions such as anxiety, demotivation, a sense of loss of purpose, and uncertainty about the future. These aspects significantly influence the development of professional identity, especially among early-career professionals. Furthermore, the findings indicate that the indiscriminate use of AI in clinical settings may lead to a loss of humanization in care, adversely affecting the quality of therapeutic interactions. Thus, it is imperative to include discussions about AI in psychology training and practice, promoting critical digital literacy and reinforcing the value of human presence in clinical care.