Embodied Virtual Interactions: What Does Equity Mean to You?: Preliminary Results for the Impact of Transgender Avatar Embodiment on Empathy

Abstract

Embodied virtual interactions can contribute to more immersive perspective taking experiences, which in turn can increase empathy and affiliation. This study sought to investigate these outcomes in the context of unconscious bias related to gender identity during interpersonal interactions. We conducted a simulated interview in virtual reality, in which participants embodied a transgender or cisgender avatar and interacted with a human-controlled agent (transgender woman). Preliminary results reveal differences between women and men in their experiences of empathy and emotional state when embodied as a transgender avatar.