The Effects of Avatar Appearance in Virtual Worlds

Bibliographic Data

ID19544678
AuthorsNicholas Merola, Nicholas A Merola (The University of Texas at Austin), Jorge Peña (0000-0002-0025-4436, The University of Texas at Austin)
Year1970
Volume2
Issue5
Publication date1970-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Virtual Worlds Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1941-8477 • E-ISSN: 1941-8477
PublisherVirtual Worlds Institute, Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.4101/jvwr.v2i5.843
OpenAlexW2520647966
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited13

In virtual worlds, users employ avatars to interact with their surroundings and with each other. However, while users exert influence on their avatar, their avatar can also exert influence on them. For instance, research has demonstrated that avatars can influence their users to be more negative, confident, aggressive, or intimate. In this paper, the ways through which subtle signals from an avatar's physical appearance can influence users and interaction partners are described. Suggestions for ways in which virtual world users, developers, and researchers can apply this knowledge to manage their virtual environment are also included

Avatar · Human–computer interaction · Metaverse · Virtual reality · Computer Science · Consumer Perception and Purchasing Behavior · Diverse Topics in Contemporary Research · Education and Learning Interventions · Psychology