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From Authenticity to Masked Performing: The Effects of Avatar Setting on Open-mindedness

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Metaverse meetings have emerged as a new approach to facilitate creative teamwork. However, prior research on metaverse meetings mostly views them as new communication mediums, and little is known about how hyper-realistic avatar design impacts individual open-mindedness. In practice, avatars can be customized to either mirror the real world with realistic avatars or reflect the alternate virtual world with idealized avatars. Combining self-discrepancy and performing theories, we propose that the mechanisms of role performing are what differentiate avatar interactions from real-face interactions. By conceptualizing the metaverse as an acting stage, we also identify how standpoint settings complement the effects of avatars through different perspective taking. A controlled laboratory experiment is scheduled to test the research model. This paper can provide a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of realistic and different levels of idealized avatars on individual open-mindedness and offer guidance on metaverse design and usage in enhancing more open mindsets.

Source: Journal of the Association for Information Systems

Authors: Liu, Huiyu, Huang, Qian, Zheng, Bowen, Liu, Hefu, Lee, Kwok On Matthew

Institutions: University of Science and Technology of China, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Central South University, City University of Hong Kong

Language: English

Topic: Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts

Subfield: Human-Computer Interaction

Field: Computer Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China

Award: G8964030671

OpenAlex ID: W7054794292

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