This talk brings together three very different topics—AI and justice, child maltreatment, and euthanasia—but all of them share a common theme: the ways in which human intuition, moral values, and trust in institutions shape our decisions.

In the first part, I introduce studies on how people evaluate human versus AI judges, showing that empathy—whether real or perceived—plays a key role in building trust. In the second part, I discuss research on child maltreatment and the work of Japan’s Child Guidance Centers. Although these agencies often face public criticism, survey data reveal that the majority of citizens hold neutral or positive views. To communicate these findings to a wider audience, we created an educational comic based on interviews with child-protection professionals.

The final part explores attitudes toward euthanasia in a rapidly aging society. Using an experimental design, we examined whether exposure to legalization information affects people’s acceptance of euthanasia and their concerns about the “slippery slope.” Our findings suggest that such information increases acceptance and reduces perceived risk.

Across these themes, the talk highlights how psychological research can help us reflect on the kind of society we want to build, and how law and psychology together can deepen our understanding of humanity.