Facilitating empathy through virtual reality

Author(s)
Schutte, Nicola
Stilinovic, Emma
Publication Date
2017
Abstract
This research experimentally investigated whether virtual reality experience can prompt greater empathy and whether greater engagement with a virtual reality connects this virtual reality experience to empathy. Randomly assigned participants viewed a documentary featuring a young girl living in a refugee camp either in a virtual reality format or in a control two-dimensional format. Results indicated that the virtual reality experience resulted in greater engagement and a higher level of empathy for the refugee girl compared to the control condition. Greater engagement was a process connecting the virtual reality experience to empathy. Virtual reality has the potential to influence interpersonal emotions such as empathy.
Citation
Motivation and Emotion, 41(6), p. 708-712
ISSN
1573-6644
0146-7239
Link
Language
en
Publisher
Springer New York LLC
Title
Facilitating empathy through virtual reality
Type of document
Journal Article
Entity Type
Publication

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