PSYCHREG - Virtual Reality Shows Potential to Reduce Prejudice Across Groups
A new study suggests that positive cooperative interactions in virtual reality (VR) can reduce prejudice not only towards the group directly involved but also extend positive attitudes to other unrelated outgroups, a phenomenon called the secondary transfer effect (STE). However, the study also indicates that competitive VR interactions may hinder this effect and that VR primarily influences explicit, rather than implicit, biases.
Nov 8, 2024
THE SCIENCE BASEMENT - Can virtual reality (VR) help fight prejudice?
Virtual reality (VR) offers a unique immersive experience that can allow users to "step into the shoes" of stigmatized minorities, potentially fostering empathy and reducing prejudice. However, the effectiveness of VR for prejudice reduction varies, with positive emotional experiences and cooperative interactions generally leading to better outcomes, while negative emotions or competitive scenarios can sometimes backfire, highlighting the need for careful design of VR interventions.
Oct 8, 2022
PSYCHOLOGY TODAY - Virtual Reality: Can the “Empathy Machine” end prejudice?
Virtual Reality (VR) is increasingly used in social psychology to study and reduce prejudice, allowing users to interact with or embody avatars of different social groups. While some research shows VR's potential to foster empathy and decrease bias, results are mixed, highlighting the need for further study to ensure effective and safe interventions.
Mar 9, 2022