Cultural Reflections in Virtual Reality: The Effects of User Ethnicity in Avatar Matching Experiences on Sense of Embodiment

TL;DR

This study investigates how participant ethnicity influences the sense of embodiment in VR when matching avatars to users, revealing significant demographic effects on embodiment experiences across diverse groups.

Contribution

It provides novel insights into how ethnicity and gender affect embodiment in VR, emphasizing the importance of demographic considerations in avatar design.

Findings

Asian and Black participants reported lower overall sense of embodiment.

Ethnicity significantly affected ownership, with stronger effects in Asian and Black participants.

Matched avatar ethnicity and gender had notable impacts on sense of embodiment.

Abstract

Matching avatar characteristics to a user can impact sense of embodiment (SoE) in VR. However, few studies have examined how participant demographics may interact with these matching effects. We recruited a diverse and racially balanced sample of 78 participants to investigate the differences among participant groups when embodying both demographically matched and unmatched avatars. We found that participant ethnicity emerged as a significant factor, with Asian and Black participants reporting lower total SoE compared to Hispanic participants. Furthermore, we found that user ethnicity significantly influences ownership (a subscale of SoE), with Asian and Black participants exhibiting stronger effects of matched avatar ethnicity compared to White participants. Additionally, Hispanic participants showed no significant differences, suggesting complex dynamics in ethnic-racial identity. Our results also reveal significant main effects of matched avatar ethnicity and gender on SoE, indicating the importance of considering these factors in VR experiences. These findings contribute valuable insights into understanding the complex dynamics shaping VR experiences across different demographic groups.