Welcome to the VICTR Lab
The Virtual Interaction and Communication Technology Research (VICTR) Lab, directed by Professor Jorge Peña in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Davis, examines how digital experiences shape perception, behavior, relationships, and wellbeing, with particular attention to embodiment, persuasion, social identity, and health.
Embodiment
A core line of research tests how acting through avatars changes self-perception, agency, emotion, and subsequent behavior, and how avatar appearance, customization, and role shape responses to the self and to others.
Persuasive and Behavioral Effects of Interactive Media
Games, apps, and interactive systems do not simply present information but also assign roles, frame action, structure choices, and cue particular interpretations of social situations, with consequences for attitudes, intentions, performance, and behavior.
Intergroup and Relational Processes in Mediated Environments
This work examines how identity cues, ingroup/outgroup framing, interpersonal behavior, verbal mimicry, and linguistic patterns influence prejudice, attraction, subgrouping, and relational processes.
Health and Wellbeing Applications
This research line investigates how embodiment experiences, games, mobile tools, and immersive systems can be designed to improve engagement, support healthier behavior, and promote better physical and psychological outcomes.
