The effects of embodying wildlife in virtual reality on conservation behaviors

26Citations
Citations of this article
76Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

Efforts to mitigate environmental threats are often inversely related to the magnitude of casualty, human or otherwise. This “compassion fade” can be explained, in part, by differential processing of large- versus small-scale threats: it is difficult to form empathic connections with unfamiliar masses versus singular victims. Despite robust findings, little is known about how non-human casualty is processed, and what strategies override this bias. Across four experiments, we show how embodying threatened megafauna-Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta Caretta)-using virtual reality can offset and reverse compassion fade. After observing compassion fade during exposure to non-human casualty in virtual reality (Study 1; N = 60), we then tested a custom virtual reality simulation designed to facilitate body transfer with a threatened Loggerhead sea turtle (Study 2; N = 98). Afterwards, a field experiment (Study 3; N = 90) testing the simulation with varied number of victims showed body transfer offset compassion fade. Lastly, a fourth study (N = 25) found that charitable giving among users embodying threatened wildlife was highest when exposed to one versus several victims, though this effect was reversed if victims were of a different species. The findings demonstrate how animal embodiment in virtual reality alters processing of environmental threats and non-human casualty, thereby influencing conservation outcomes.

References Powered by Scopus

Defining Virtual Reality: Dimensions Determining Telepresence

3644Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Rubber hands 'feel' touch that eyes see [8]

3244Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Accelerated modern human-induced species losses: Entering the sixth mass extinction

2779Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Cited by Powered by Scopus

Empowering sustainability in the built environment: A technological Lens on industry 4.0 Enablers

39Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Embodying Physics-Aware Avatars in Virtual Reality

10Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Seeing the World Through Digital Prisms: Psychological Implications of Passthrough Video Usage in Mixed Reality

5Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Pimentel, D., & Kalyanaraman, S. (2022). The effects of embodying wildlife in virtual reality on conservation behaviors. Scientific Reports, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10268-y

Readers' Seniority

Tooltip

PhD / Post grad / Masters / Doc 7

39%

Professor / Associate Prof. 6

33%

Researcher 5

28%

Readers' Discipline

Tooltip

Social Sciences 6

43%

Environmental Science 4

29%

Agricultural and Biological Sciences 3

21%

Design 1

7%

Article Metrics

Tooltip
Mentions
News Mentions: 8

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free