Becoming nature: effects of embodying a tree in immersive virtual reality on nature relatedness

Abstract

The potential of using immersive virtual reality (iVR) technologies to enhance nature relatedness by embodying non-human beings, such as plants or animals, is only sparsely researched. To contribute to this emerging research field we conducted an experimental study (N = 28) that compared the effects of the viewing condition (iVR or desktop) while embodying a tree on nature relatedness, perspective-taking and, as a control, on perceived immersion. A mixed-method approach employing quantitative and qualitative questions was used. Our results showed that irrespective of condition allocation, the more immersed participants felt in their experience, the greater they reported increased levels of nature relatedness (r = 0.42, p < .05). While our quantitative data did yield a difference in immersion levels between the viewing condition (iVR vs. video, t(26) = 2.05, p = .05, d = .50) that did not translate into a stronger experimental effect of the iVR condition on nature relatedness (FInteraction(1,26) < 1). Regarding perspective taking, no significant differences between both groups emerged in the number of users who self-reported having fully taken on the perspective of the tree, (χ2(1) = 2.33, p = .127). However, only participants from the iVR group described their experience from a first-person perspective, suggesting a higher level of identification with the tree. This matches the observation that only those participants also reported self-reflective processes of their own role as a human being towards nature. Our results support previous research suggesting that experiencing nature via immersive VR in itself does not seem to suffice for creating an effect on nature relatedness. However, we observed that a higher perceived level of immersion for participants experiencing the embodiment of a tree in the iVR condition provoked reflective processes on one’s own role towards nature more strongly. We discuss the role of immersion and further factors to explain these differences and suggest steps for future research settings to help understand the beneficial potential of using immersive VR for nature relatedness.

Effects of virtual reality natural experiences on factory workers’ psychological and physiological stress

“…This study found that VR natural experiences had positive effects on psychological stress of factory workers, including distress, depression, anxiety, and positive affect. These results are in line with previous studies and demonstrate the effects of VR natural experiences on alleviating psychological stress (Li et al, 2021;Calogiuri et al, 2022;Spangenberger et al, 2022) and that it is a feasible approach which can be applied during break time in the workplace, particular in manufacturing factory settings. However, VR natural experiences did not have an effect on perceived stress.…”

Increasing awareness of climate change with immersive virtual reality

“…There was no overall increase in nature relatedness across all conditions, although there was a trend for an increase exclusively in the VR conditions. The absence of a clear effect of VR on nature relatedness is in line with other recent studies (Soliman et al, 2017;Spangenberger et al, 2022). For example, Spangenberger et al used VR to "embody" participants with a tree (participants could do small branch movements with their arms).…”

“…These and our own results suggest that nature relatedness may be difficult to modulate with short-time interventions, particularly when using traditional media. As pointed out by others, interactivity with the environment and movements of the person's own body resembling the virtual body when interacting with the environment may be important factors in increasing nature relatedness, which was not the case in the present study (Ahn et al, 2016;Spangenberger et al, 2022).…”

A randomized trial testing the effectiveness of virtual reality as a tool for pro-environmental dietary change

“…Therefore, the results of this randomized trial do not allow us to disentangle the psychological mechanisms that resulted in the reported behavioral change and do not answer the question of what is the additional value of immersive technology compared to more standard interventions. Future research should therefore focus on investigating the cognitive, affective, or educational aspects behind these effects using different comparison conditions including standard knowledge-based interventions or VR emotional embodied experiences focused on connectedness to nature 3 .…”

“…Emerging evidence suggests that immersive Virtual Reality (VR) can be a powerful tool to promote pro-environmental behavior 1 . For example, VR-mediated natural experiences have been shown to increase connectedness to nature 2 , 3 and to promote pro-environmental behavior as effectively as a real-life nature hiking experience 4 . Immersive VR enables the creation of realistic and embodied situations which provide rich sensory input 5 , ensuring that virtual experiences nonetheless feel proximal to the individual 6 .…”