Communications in Virtual Environment Improve Interpersonal Impression

Abstract

Pseudo physical touch is used for communications in virtual environments such as VRChat. We aimed to test if the pseudo-touch communication affects social impression in a virtual environment. Nineteen participants performed the controlled experiment with a partner who was an experimenter with three types of communications: no touch, pseudo touch, and actual touch. Subjective ratings of attractiveness and the communication easiness with the partner increased in all conditions, suggesting that the communication in virtual environments improves interpersonal attraction and communicability either with or without physical or pseudo touch.