Effects of Emotion and Agency on Presence in Virtual Reality

Abstract

Figure 1: We manipulated emotion and agency through a 2x2 design. a) A scene in the Happiness park VE. b) The dog in the HNA condition. c) The dog in the HA condition interacting with the laser pointer. d) A scene in the Fear park VE. e) The creature in the FNA condition. f) The creature in the FA condition and the torch light.

Joyful Adventures and Frightening Places–Designing Emotion-Inducing Virtual Environments

“…Alternatively, it is possible that negative VE design mainly manipulates perceived fear but not joy, and vice-versa positive VE design mainly targets perceived joy but not fear. This assumption is supported by a recent study investigating the effects of emotions on the formation of presence (Jicol et al, 2021). The study showed that only the predominant emotion in a VE affects presence.…”

“…The study revealed that presence is mostly influenced by emotional intensity and less by emotional valence (Jicol et al, 2021). Also, only the predominant emotion in a VE increased presence (Jicol et al, 2021). Presence describes the subjective sensation of being in a real place, i.e., accepting the VE as the current location, despite physically being in a different environment (Slater, 2009).…”

“…In this way, presence is considered as a mediating variable between the media experience and the induced emotions. A recent study of Jicol et al (2021) investigated the formation of felt emotional intensity and agency evoked by the VE design as well as the influence of these two aspects on the formation of presence. The study revealed that presence is mostly influenced by emotional intensity and less by emotional valence (Jicol et al, 2021).…”

“…A recent study of Jicol et al (2021) investigated the formation of felt emotional intensity and agency evoked by the VE design as well as the influence of these two aspects on the formation of presence. The study revealed that presence is mostly influenced by emotional intensity and less by emotional valence (Jicol et al, 2021). Also, only the predominant emotion in a VE increased presence (Jicol et al, 2021).…”

From Digital Media to Empathic Reality: A Systematic Review of Empathy Research in Extended Reality Environments

“…Noticeably, the content designers of virtual environments bring a level of agency to their audiences. In virtual environments, agency refers to the extent to which users can interact and modify objects in the scenes [59]. Users with virtual environments of high agency levels can employ a more active approach when interacting with the empathic content to experience empathy.…”