Insights into the Predictors of Empathy in Virtual Reality Environments

Abstract

The effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) in eliciting empathy lies in the fact that VR offers possibilities for situating people in a specific context and in the shoes of others. Previous research has investigated the benefits of VR in eliciting empathy and has compared VR with other technologies. However, there is a lack of research on the predictors of empathy in VR experiences. To fill this gap in the literature, this study aimed to identify the predictors of empathy when VR is used as a medium to elicit empathy. A structural model based on hypotheses was validated using partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with data from the interaction of 100 participants in a tailor-made VR experience developed to create empathy toward migration. The results show that our model explains 44.8% of the variance in emotional empathy as a result of the positive influence of compassion and attitudes toward migrants. Moreover, the model explains 36.8% of the variance in cognitive empathy as a result of the positive influence of engagement, attitudes toward migrants, compassion, and immersion.