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Facilitating empathy through virtual reality

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia

    Nicola S. Schutte & Emma J. Stilinović

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  1. Nicola S. Schutte
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  2. Emma J. Stilinović
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Correspondence to Nicola S. Schutte.

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Schutte, N.S., Stilinović, E.J. Facilitating empathy through virtual reality. Motiv Emot 41, 708–712 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-017-9641-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-017-9641-7

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