Intergroup contact in VR Publication

We are excited to announce a new publication from the lab in New Media & Society. In “Intergroup contact in virtual reality: The influence of avatar identity, social identity, and contact valence on prejudice,” the study examines how avatar embodiment and the quality of virtual interactions shape attitudes toward ingroup and outgroup members in VR. Using a sample of 262 U.S. participants, the findings show that embodying a stranger’s face increased acceptance of outgroup virtual humans, while positive contact strengthened self–other overlap. The article offers new evidence about the mechanisms through which VR experiences can both reduce and shape prejudice.