Legitimacy Construction of AI Tools: A Cognitive-Behavioral Interaction Perspective

认知—行为互动视角下人工智能工具合法性建设

Abstract

This study, based on the perspective of employee cognition-behavior interaction, delves into the interactive relationships and mechanisms among employees' perceived professional identity threats, impression management behaviors, and AI legitimacy construction during the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) tools into organizations. The study first identifies technological attributes, task characteristics, and organizational environment as key contextual factors triggering employees' perceived identity threats, and proposes three specific types of perceived identity threats: professional status threat, professional competence threat, and autonomy threat. It elaborates on how different threat perceptions drive employees to implement specific impression management behaviors and how these behaviors generate cognitive reinforcement. Furthermore, the study reveals that employees' impression management behaviors not only affect the legitimacy construction of AI tools within the organization at the cognitive, practical, and normative levels, but also that the degree of AI tool legitimacy construction conversely influences employees' perceived identity threats and impression management behaviors, thus forming an interactive feedback mechanism. The study theoretically integrates and deepens the understanding of identity theory, impression management theory, and organizational legitimacy theory, and provides clear strategic guidance for management practices, helping organizations effectively address the complex challenges of employee cognition, behavior, and legitimacy management during the application of AI tools.