Predictors of the Sense of Embodiment of a Female Victim of Sexual Harassment in a Male Sample Through 360-Degree Video-Based Virtual Reality

Abstract

The sense of embodiment refers to the set of sensations related to having (i.e., ownership), being located in (i.e., location), and controlling (i.e., agency) a virtual body. Recently, 360-degree video-based Virtual Reality (VR) has been used to manipulate the sense of embodiment, generating the body-swap illusion, that is, the illusionary switch from the real body to a virtual one. However, the psychological mechanisms involved in this illusion are still unknown. The present study is a secondary analysis of the study by Ventura et al. (2021) investigating the feasibility of 360-degree video to induce the body swap from a male’s real body to a female virtual body in a sexual harassment virtual environment. In addition, the study explores whether the sense of presence and psychological trait variables related to sexual harassment (i.e., machismo, chivalry, alexithymia, empathic abilities) predict the illusion of owning the body of a female victim of sexual harassment. Forty-four men participated in the study, and the results indicate that the 360-degree video is able to induce the body-swap illusion for location and ownership, but not for agency. Multiple regression analyses showed that the sense of presence was a predictor of the three dimensions of embodiment, but specific psychological traits (i.e., low scores on machismo, high scores on difficulties expressing feelings, and high scores on perspective taking) were also predictor variables of experiencing a greater sense of location and agency in the female virtual body. This study shows that both technological issues and participants’ psychological traits are involved in the experience of the body-swap illusion in a sexual harassment scenario using 360-degree video-based VR.

Sexual Violence in Virtual Reality

“…The VR immersive condition appeared to have the greatest impact, particularly in positively influencing stereotypical views of men regarding sexual harassment. Ventura et al (2021; 2022) describe development and testing of a VR immersive experience intended to influence empathy by having 44 men embody the woman being harassed in the VR scenario. Tested against a simple narrative about the harassment, the VR experience yielded stronger positive outcomes in increasing empathy, a sense of oneness with the female victim, and being able to take on the perspective of the female victim.…”

“…Six articles (including a published conference abstract) describe five studies that used VR to facilitate various aspects of embodiment and test hypotheses that doing so will positively influence gender biases, empathy, and beliefs surrounding sexual violence, harassment, and vulnerability of women (Al-Zubeidi et al, 2021;Neyret et al, 2020;Steinfeld, 2019;Ventura et al, 2021Ventura et al, , 2022Wu & Chen, 2022). Al-Zubeidi et al (2021) report their development of A Walk Alone, a VR immersive experience in which the individual experiences what it feels like to walk alone as a woman in the evening; results from any pilot work are not reported, and it is unclear if the product has been tested or researched in any depth.…”

Roundtable: Raising Empathy through Virtual Reality

“…Recent research also indicates that the utility of the body ownership illusion depends on user psychological traits. For example, lower scores on the traits of machismo and alexithymia were demonstrated to be facilitators for male participants to embody a female victim of sexual harassment [60].…”

Can Correlates of a Memory be Transferred Between Human Subjects? A New False Memory Paradigm.

“…Virtual reality (VR) technologies project using a variety of tools, including computers, cellphones, and head-mounted displays (Kyaw et al, 2019), and are used to present a computer-generated virtual environment or 360-degree recording technology-captured real environment, effectively stimulating the human senses and creating perceptions similar to naturally experienced ones (Kalaga, 2003;Ventura, 2022). VR activates various psychological and cognitive mechanisms, including presence, self-conceptualization, interactivity, visual perception, and facial recognition, among others (Blascovich et al, 2002;Quesnel & Riecke, 2018).…”