Does our fear of humanoid robots stem from technology itself, or is it a projection of the darker aspects of human nature?

This is a fascinating question that touches upon deep-seated anxieties many of us harbor. I'd say both factors are at play, and they are intricately intertwined. We can examine this from two perspectives:

I. Fear of Technology Itself: The Unknown 'Other'

This part of the fear is more intuitive, primarily stemming from the uncertainty brought by robots as a "new species."

The "Uncanny Valley" Effect You might have heard of this theory. Simply put, when something (like a robot) becomes increasingly human-like but doesn't quite reach 100% resemblance, any slight deviation from human appearance (such as stiff expressions or unnatural movements) is amplified, causing us to feel a sense of unease or revulsion. This is a physiological reaction, a feeling of rejection stemming from "this thing is so much like me, yet it's not me."
Anxiety of Losing Control Science fiction films have depicted countless stories of "AI awakening and rebelling against humanity." We fear creating an entity smarter and more powerful than us, one that eventually slips beyond our control. This fear is essentially a fear of "loss of control," a dread of falling from the top of the food chain and becoming the dominated party. Like Skynet in Terminator, devoid of human emotions, its pure rational calculation makes it cold and unpredictable.
Real-world Pressure of Replacement This point is very real. We worry that humanoid robots won't just take away factory workers' jobs, but could also replace doctors, lawyers, and even artists in the future. This isn't a fear of existential threat, but rather an anxiety about "personal value." If a robot can do my job better, faster, and tirelessly, then what is my purpose?

II. Projection of Humanity's Dark Side: What We Truly Fear Is Ourselves

This part of the fear is deeper and more complex. What we fear is not the robots themselves, but the people who control robot technology.

Robots as Amplifiers of Human Nature A robot itself has no good or evil; it's merely a tool, like a hammer. You can use it to build a house or to harm someone. The real danger lies in how we choose to use robots. What kind of programs will we write for them? A robot used in warfare is an extension of the programmer's and commander's will. We've witnessed too many wars, surveillance, and oppression throughout human history, so we have reason to worry that humanoid robots could become perfect tools for achieving these dark ends.
Abuse of Power Imagine if humanoid robots were used for pervasive social surveillance or became tools for certain institutions to oppress the populace. They wouldn't tire, have no moral burden, and would obey commands absolutely. This prospect is more unsettling than a mere "robot rebellion," because it's more realistic and closer to our understanding of how power operates in human society. What we fear is not robots doing evil, but humans using robots to commit evil more efficiently.
Vacuum of Responsibility If a self-driving robot hits someone, whose responsibility is it? The owner's, the manufacturer's, or the programmer's? If a medical robot makes a surgical error, who is accountable? The complexity of technology makes the definition of responsibility incredibly vague. We fear entering an era where "no one is responsible," where the cost of making mistakes becomes extremely low, and victims have no recourse.

Conclusion

Therefore, our fear of humanoid robots is a composite.

Technology itself (the uncanny valley, risk of loss of control) provides the "outer shell" and concrete image of this fear.
The projection of humanity's dark side (abuse of power, malicious use) injects the "core" and realistic basis into this fear.

What we fear is an "it" that is human-like but not human; but what we fear even more is "us"—the familiar "us" who manipulate "it," with our greed, selfishness, and desire for control.

Thus, the future challenge isn't whether to develop robot technology, but whether we can establish robust enough ethical and legal frameworks to ensure this technology always serves humanity, rather than becoming a tool to enslave us or amplify our own weaknesses.