So far yet so near : exploring the effects of presence and psychological distance in promoting prosocial behaviour in virtual reality

This study explores the theoretical mechanisms behind virtual reality's (VR) ability to induce empathy and prosocial behaviour by proposing a conceptual framework based on Construal Level Theory (CLT). It posits that increased perceptions of virtual presence, together with a reduction of percei...

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Main Authors: Aw, Yao Feng, Lee, Hui Min, Lim, Samuel Weng Leong, Goh, Winnie Wen Pin
Other Authors: Benjamin Li Junting
Format: Final Year Project
Language:English
Published: Nanyang Technological University 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10356/147159
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Institution: Nanyang Technological University
Language: English
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spelling sg-ntu-dr.10356-1471592023-03-05T16:07:07Z So far yet so near : exploring the effects of presence and psychological distance in promoting prosocial behaviour in virtual reality Aw, Yao Feng Lee, Hui Min Lim, Samuel Weng Leong Goh, Winnie Wen Pin Benjamin Li Junting Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information benjyli@ntu.edu.sg Social sciences::Mass media::Media effects This study explores the theoretical mechanisms behind virtual reality's (VR) ability to induce empathy and prosocial behaviour by proposing a conceptual framework based on Construal Level Theory (CLT). It posits that increased perceptions of virtual presence, together with a reduction of perceived psychological distance, may translate into prosocial behaviours such as intention to donate money and volunteer. We propose two routes to explain this relationship, namely the Place Illusion Route and the Self-Plausibility Route. A total of 244 participants participated in the experiment: university undergraduates were randomly selected into one of three modality conditions (VR, 360 video and 360 desktop video). All participants experienced a scenario of being caught in a military crossfire, followed by a mine explosion in a village. We found that VR as an immersive medium is more likely to allow users to feel physically present and closer to a place. This may in turn make users feel a stronger sense of empathy, which urges them to engage in prosocial behaviour. This study thus highlights the effectiveness of CLT in explaining the relationship between immersion and prosocial behaviour when mediated by physical presence, spatial distance and empathy. Bachelor of Communication Studies 2021-03-24T06:51:03Z 2021-03-24T06:51:03Z 2021 Final Year Project (FYP) Aw, Y. F., Lee, H. M., Lim, S. W. L. & Goh, W. W. P. (2021). So far yet so near : exploring the effects of presence and psychological distance in promoting prosocial behaviour in virtual reality. Final Year Project (FYP), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. https://hdl.handle.net/10356/147159 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/147159 en CS/20/049 application/pdf Nanyang Technological University
institution Nanyang Technological University
building NTU Library
continent Asia
country Singapore
Singapore
content_provider NTU Library
collection DR-NTU
language English
topic Social sciences::Mass media::Media effects
spellingShingle Social sciences::Mass media::Media effects
Aw, Yao Feng
Lee, Hui Min
Lim, Samuel Weng Leong
Goh, Winnie Wen Pin
So far yet so near : exploring the effects of presence and psychological distance in promoting prosocial behaviour in virtual reality
description This study explores the theoretical mechanisms behind virtual reality's (VR) ability to induce empathy and prosocial behaviour by proposing a conceptual framework based on Construal Level Theory (CLT). It posits that increased perceptions of virtual presence, together with a reduction of perceived psychological distance, may translate into prosocial behaviours such as intention to donate money and volunteer. We propose two routes to explain this relationship, namely the Place Illusion Route and the Self-Plausibility Route. A total of 244 participants participated in the experiment: university undergraduates were randomly selected into one of three modality conditions (VR, 360 video and 360 desktop video). All participants experienced a scenario of being caught in a military crossfire, followed by a mine explosion in a village. We found that VR as an immersive medium is more likely to allow users to feel physically present and closer to a place. This may in turn make users feel a stronger sense of empathy, which urges them to engage in prosocial behaviour. This study thus highlights the effectiveness of CLT in explaining the relationship between immersion and prosocial behaviour when mediated by physical presence, spatial distance and empathy.
author2 Benjamin Li Junting
author_facet Benjamin Li Junting
Aw, Yao Feng
Lee, Hui Min
Lim, Samuel Weng Leong
Goh, Winnie Wen Pin
format Final Year Project
author Aw, Yao Feng
Lee, Hui Min
Lim, Samuel Weng Leong
Goh, Winnie Wen Pin
author_sort Aw, Yao Feng
title So far yet so near : exploring the effects of presence and psychological distance in promoting prosocial behaviour in virtual reality
title_short So far yet so near : exploring the effects of presence and psychological distance in promoting prosocial behaviour in virtual reality
title_full So far yet so near : exploring the effects of presence and psychological distance in promoting prosocial behaviour in virtual reality
title_fullStr So far yet so near : exploring the effects of presence and psychological distance in promoting prosocial behaviour in virtual reality
title_full_unstemmed So far yet so near : exploring the effects of presence and psychological distance in promoting prosocial behaviour in virtual reality
title_sort so far yet so near : exploring the effects of presence and psychological distance in promoting prosocial behaviour in virtual reality
publisher Nanyang Technological University
publishDate 2021
url https://hdl.handle.net/10356/147159
_version_ 1759855046978174976