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

\authororcidTiffany D. Do0000-0003-3323-4586 \authororcidJuanita Benjamin0000-0003-1308-6678 Camille Isabella Protko and \authororcidRyan P. McMahan0000-0001-9357-9696

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.

keywords:

Virtual reality, sense of embodiment, avatars, diversity.

\onlineid

1190 \ieeedoi10.1109/TVCG.2024.3456196 \vgtccategoryResearch \vgtcpapertypeapplication/design study \authorfooter Tiffany D. Do is with Drexel University. E-mail: [email protected]. Juanita Benjamin is with The University of Central Florida. E-mail: [email protected]. Camille Isabella Protko is with The University of Central Florida. E-mail: [email protected]. Ryan P. McMahan is with Virginia Tech. E-mail: [email protected]. \teaser [Uncaptioned image] This figure shows how user ethnicity influences self-avatar matching effects and sense of embodiment (SoE). The green circle represents an avatar that has both ethnicity and gender matched, while the red circle represents an avatar that has neither. Blue circles represent avatars that have only one factor matched to the user. Asian and Black participants generally had lower SoE and had higher SoE with avatars that matched their ethnicity.